Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bloomingdale, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method to identify alcohol and drug consumption. Hair captures long-lasting records of substances by embedding biomarkers within the hair’s growing fibers. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal a window of up to roughly three months for drug and alcohol consumption. The process of hair collection is straightforward, manipulating the sample is fairly challenging, and shipping is convenient.

A 1.5-inch hair segment comprising about 200 strands, akin to the width of a #2 pencil, closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, considered the optimal quantity for both initial screening and subsequent confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, or tests exceeding ten panels, 150mg of hair is advised. Using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. "Head hair" refers strictly to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test outcomes involves Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation stages.

During Accessioning, the sample enters the laboratory system. This step ensures that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides an initial rapid check for substance abuse. While Screening effectively eliminates drug use for most samples, positive results must be confirmed to be legally valid. Any sample showing presumed positive results needs further confirmation.

In cases of presumptive positive results during Screening, additional hair from the initial specimen is prepared for Extraction. This extraction process involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine, oral fluid), setting hair analysis apart as a challenging methodology.

Confirmation of positive Screening outcomes is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before Confirmation as necessary. The entire procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is audited under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection: Hair testing reveals drug use for up to 90 days, surpassing urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• High reliability: Tampering with hair tests is notably difficult, enhancing accuracy.
• Chronological insights: Offers insights into drug use patterns over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally incurs higher costs than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentration may vary due to hair color and individual hair growth differences.

Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to conventional urine testing in Bloomingdale, NJ, the former emerges superior. The ability to detect drugs over a longer duration and with greater reliability makes hair tests a preferred method.

Unlike urine tests, hair follicle tests provide a broader view of an individual's drug history, enhancing detection accuracy and minimizing potential errors.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Bloomingdale, NJ, offer a significant detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This duration is ideal for employers seeking a thorough history of substance use.

This feature enables businesses to make informed decisions about candidates and employees, providing a comprehensive assessment of potential risks associated with drug use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle test in Bloomingdale, NJ, stands out due to its resistant nature against sample tampering. The testing process is designed to prevent adulteration, ensuring trustworthy results every time.

This tamper-resistant approach makes hair tests invaluable, offering reliable data for informed decision-making without concerns over sample integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations

Our extensive network of testing centers provides easy access to hair follicle tests, including in Bloomingdale, NJ. This ensures hassle-free service, regardless of where you are.

Whether local or nationwide, our locations promise speedy and convenient testing—with accessibility being a top priority for our clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process

Engaging in hair follicle testing in Bloomingdale, NJ, involves a straightforward and private process. Our approach guarantees confidential handling from test requisition to results delivery.

This simplicity alleviates concerns about privacy, allowing individuals to undergo testing with confidence in both ease and discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround

In Bloomingdale, NJ, hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing paired with quick result delivery. Our services deliver excellent value, suitable for businesses of any size looking for cost-effective solutions.

The rapid turnaround further assures employers receive timely insights into their workforce’s drug use, without burdening budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Conducting hair follicle drug tests in Bloomingdale, NJ, guarantees rapid and dependable outcomes. These tests deliver high precision in detecting drug use, ensuring results you can trust.

Employing advanced technologies, these tests swiftly identify traces of drugs, offering a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s substance use, much more accurately than traditional methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Bloomingdale, NJ, helps maintain compliance with workplace drug policies effectively. This approach reduces legal exposure and enhances safety.

Employers gain peace of mind knowing they have a robust drug testing method in place, upholding a drug-free environment while protecting their workforce and business interests.

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What's New In Hair Follicle Drug Testing according to the Hair Drug Testing Experts

With its multidisciplinary nature, hair testing brings together researchers, scientists, and experts from various domains to develop innovative techniques, explore new methodologies, and address emerging concerns, responding to the ever-evolving challenges of drug abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, and environmental exposures to pollutants.

The joint meeting of the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) and the Italian Group of Forensic Toxicologists (GTFI) was organized in Verona, June 8–10, 2022, and hosted by the Legal Medicine team of the Verona University Hospital, directed by Franco Tagliaro together with Federica Bortolotti and Rossella Gottardo.

It served as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, facilitating groundbreaking advancements in hair testing and analysis. In this special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, we aim to showcase the remarkable manuscripts presented at this significant event, shedding light on the latest research and highlighting the future directions in this field.

Novel Analytical Techniques: The Verona meeting witnessed the unveiling of cutting-edge analytical techniques, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy for drug testing. Remarkable advancements in sample preparation, detection, and identification of drug compounds have been presented. The manuscripts in this section presented novel approaches, such as multianalyte methods and on-line preparation which can enable rapid analysis and improve thorough forensic investigations.

Biomarkers and Pharmacokinetics: The identification and validation of reliable biomarkers and pharmacokinetic studies are fundamental aspects of drug testing and analysis. The impact of hair treatments on the oxidation/decomposition of drugs in hair was also explored, as the long-term fate of drugs incorporated in the keratin matrix. Furthermore, the SoHT meeting in Verona featured research on the identification and quantification of alcohol abuse biomarkers, their stability, and their correlation with exposure and other biomarkers.

Forensic Applications and Interpretation: One of the vital objectives of hair testing is its application in forensic investigations and legal proceedings. The SoHT meeting in Verona emphasized the significance of rigorous interpretation of analytical results and the need for standardized protocols. Manuscripts in this section present advancements in forensic toxicology, and have explored the challenges posed by emerging designer drugs and strategies to combat their proliferation. The pitfalls encountered when the exogenous/endogenous nature of a substance is questioned were presented and discussed. The special issue presents also manuscripts that delve into the ethical implications of drug testing in drug facilitated sexual assaults.

Clinical Applications of hair testing are witnessed by the insight on environmental tobacco smoke exposure, assessed by hair analysis in a population of students and the study of in utero-exposure to drugs of abuse through neonatal hair analysis. Exposure to drugs was also important in cases of child abuse/neglect, when the clinical purpose of hair testing merge with its forensic applications.

The legal framework surrounding hair testing and the achievement of guidelines to ensure fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality in drug testing practices have also been discussed,and the SoHT consensus on general hair testing and testing for drugs of abuse was presented at the meeting and published as a Letter to the Editor.

In conclusion, the special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, featuring manuscripts from the SoHT–GTFI meeting in Verona 2022, reflects the remarkable advancements achieved in this field. The manuscripts provide valuable insights into novel analytical techniques, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, forensic applications, and ethical considerations. As we embrace these advancements, we pave the way for a safer, healthier society, where drug testing and analysis serve as powerful tools in protecting public health and maintaining integrity in various sectors. The research presented in this special issue will undoubtedly shape the future of drug testing and analysis, fostering collaboration and inspiring further innovation in this crucial area of scientific inquiry.

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