Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brooklawn, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The fibers of the growing hair strand entrap biomarkers, offering a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug use. When collected adjacent to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection range of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, tough to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for analysis and verification. For EtG, supplementary options, and/or assessments beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we are solely referring to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in processing a drug test result in the laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial handling of a sample into the lab’s infrastructure. This encompasses confirming the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, issuing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody process.

Screening conducts a preliminary rapid inspection for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be credible in a legal setting. Any samples presumed positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample is presumed positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.

Positive screening results are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation when necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug evaluations can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more constrained detection period.
• Hard to evade: Evading a hair drug test is exceptionally hard, enhancing result precision.
• Offers historical insight: It presents a timeline of drug consumption, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent intake: Drugs become detectable in hair within approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other testing approaches.
• Result variability: Variances such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though often dubbed "hair follicle tests", the method evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Brooklawn, NJ, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing due to its enhanced detection accuracy. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair tests cover longer detection periods.

Employers in Brooklawn find hair follicle tests provide more reliable and accurate detection compared to conventional urine tests, ensuring policy adherence.

Extended Detection Window

With up to a 90-day detection window, hair follicle testing in Brooklawn, NJ offers employers a thorough insight into an individual's substance history.

Hair testing in Brooklawn assures employers of an extensive review of an applicant's or employee's drug use, extending over a significant period.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Brooklawn's hair follicle tests are a tamper-resistant method, reducing sample adulteration risks and ensuring reliable outcomes.

Employers in Brooklawn, NJ, can trust hair tests for their resistant nature against tampering, providing unquestionable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Brooklawn, NJ benefits from convenient access to nationwide and local testing centers, ensuring easy, stress-free testing services.

The availability of testing centers both locally in Brooklawn and nationwide guarantees fast and hassle-free testing access.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Brooklawn, NJ, the hair follicle testing process is simple and private, from ordering to results, putting privacy concerns to rest.

Brooklawn residents enjoy a straightforward, discrete procedure, ensuring ease of use and confidentiality in test administration and results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Brooklawn, NJ businesses benefit from competitive pricing and rapid result delivery, providing excellent value and assurance for any company size.

Cost-effective pricing and quick turnaround in Brooklawn make hair testing an attractive option for budget-conscious employers seeking quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Brooklawn, NJ offer unmatched precision and speed. They accurately identify substance use, making them a reliable choice for all testing needs.

The rapid and precise results from hair tests in Brooklawn ensure employers can make informed decisions quickly and confidently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Brooklawn, NJ helps employers adhere to drug-free policies, minimizing legal challenges and enhancing safety.

Employers in Brooklawn gain peace of mind by utilizing hair tests, aligning with compliance requirements and improving workplace security.

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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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