Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Clearbrook Park, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair maintains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the growing strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can indicate up to roughly a 3-month history of substance use. It's straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

Acquiring a 1.5-inch section of about 200 strands (resembling the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, the preferred amount for both preliminary and confirmatory analysis. For EtG, additional tests, and screenings beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's recommended to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. When we mention head hair, we specifically refer to scalp hair alone. Body hair encompasses any other type (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal stages in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial entry of a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was securely sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entries not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drug use. Though Screening offers a cost-effective method for excluding drug use in most cases, a positive Screening result requires Confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples showing potential positivity in Screening require follow-up Confirmation.

If Screening suggests potential drug presence, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is considered the most challenging in terms of methodology.

Confirming a positive Screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every potential positive sample undergoes washing before Confirmation as deemed necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, complies with both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a more limited detection duration.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, leading to more accurate outcomes.
• Historical insight: It captures a timeline of drug use over an extended period, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incompetent for detecting recent use: It takes around 5-7 days for substances to become detectable within hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Result fluctuations: Variables like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Clearbrook Park, NJ, hair follicle testing supersedes traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy. Hair tests provide a more comprehensive view, detecting substances with higher reliability. This accuracy is critical for employers and agencies that rely on drug test results for critical decisions.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Clearbrook Park, NJ, offers a panoramic insight into an individual's drug use history. Capable of tracing substance exposure for up to 90 days, these tests equip employers with the necessary information to make well-informed hiring and policy decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Clearbrook Park, NJ, provide a tamper-resistant method of drug screening. The integrity of the sample is maintained due to the inability to alter or adulterate hair specimens, ensuring that the results are both credible and indisputable.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible and convenient, our testing centers in Clearbrook Park, NJ, along with our extensive nationwide network, provide easy access to testing services. This ensures a seamless process for individuals and companies seeking reliable drug testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Clearbrook Park, NJ, is notably simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving the results, every step is designed with privacy and ease in mind, addressing any concerns about discretion and user-friendliness.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and quick results in Clearbrook Park, NJ, hair follicle testing represents a valuable asset for businesses of all sizes. Our competitive rates and fast processing times help companies maintain budgets while ensuring efficient workplace substance monitoring.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing is renowned for its speed and accuracy in identifying substance use. In Clearbrook Park, NJ, the precision of these tests ensures that the results are both reliable and promptly delivered. This rapid turnaround is crucial for employers and authorities in making informed and timely decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Clearbrook Park, NJ, trust hair follicle testing to maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces potential legal liabilities and bolsters workplace safety, providing managers peace of mind as they uphold organizational standards.

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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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