Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brigantine, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has increasingly become a vital instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair provides an extensive timeline of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the maturing hair strand. If obtained close to the scalp, hair can offer up to an approximate 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively tough to alter, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in thickness) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimum quantity for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the specimen is advocated. We advise measuring the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair should be gathered. When discussing head hair, it refers to scalp hair exclusively. Body hair denotes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary steps in laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s framework. This step involves ensuring the sample was adequately sealed and dispatched, assigning a randomized LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody mechanism.

Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is an economical way to exclude drug consumption for most samples, a positive screen must be verified for it to be admissible in legal settings. Samples that yield presumptive positive results during Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample tests positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and set for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which renders hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug tests can reveal drug usage for as long as 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• High difficulty to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly improbable, resulting in more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It can demonstrate a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just immediate use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Approximately 5-7 days are needed for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to other testing methodologies.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the levels of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Despite often being termed as "hair follicle tests", the evaluation examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why does hair follicle testing trump urine analysis in Brigantine, NJ? The benefits speak for themselves. Hair testing offers superior detection accuracy, with a longer window than urinalysis, allowing substances to be identified even when they're no longer detectable in urine. While urine tests may miss recent substance use, hair tests provide a detailed, long-term usage history, making them not only accurate but also reliable and comprehensive.

Extended Detection Window

In Brigantine, NJ, the extended detection window of hair follicle testing effectively captures drug use over spans up to 90 days. Providing employers with a broad view of an employee's substance history, this testing method is unmatched in its ability to reveal prolonged patterns of drug use.
This longer window empowers employers to make more informed decisions concerning workplace safety and employee reliability.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests are renowned in Brigantine, NJ, for being a tamper-resistant testing method. Unlike other approaches, they significantly minimize the chance of sample tampering.
The cutting-edge methodology ensures that results remain credible and beyond dispute, reinforcing the integrity of the drug testing process and ensuring confidence in its outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of nationwide testing locations, including those in Brigantine, NJ, simplifies the process for individuals and organizations seeking testing services. With numerous centers readily accessible, obtaining drug tests is a straightforward, hassle-free experience.
This extensive network ensures that users of the service enjoy unmatched convenience, regardless of their location.

Simple, Confidential Process

Brigantine, NJ, boasts a simple and confidential process for hair follicle testing. The straightforward approach to ordering, executing, and receiving results prioritizes the user’s privacy and simplicity.
Individuals can confidently access the testing services, knowing their data and results remain discreet while the process itself is user-friendly and efficient.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With affordable pricing and speedy turnaround times in Brigantine, NJ, our hair follicle testing services provide unbeatable value. Competitive pricing structures mean companies of every size receive top-tier services without breaking the bank.
Combining cost-effectiveness with rapid results fosters confidence, attracting businesses keen on maintaining high standards at reasonable costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing delivers fast, accurate, and reliable results in Brigantine, NJ. The precision offered by hair analysis in identifying substance use surpasses traditional methods. Detecting even the smallest traces of substances quickly, it stands as a testament to its high-performance standards.
Its unparalleled accuracy ensures that employers and individuals receive trustworthy results, reflecting true substance usage patterns.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring compliance and peace of mind for employers in Brigantine, NJ, hair follicle testing is a crucial tool. It aligns seamlessly with workplace drug-free directives, mitigating legal exposure and enhancing safety standards.
Employers can trust in the rigorousness of hair testing to both maintain a safe workplace environment and safeguard against potential substance-related liabilities.

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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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