Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Collingswood, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering an extended-term record of substance use. When procured near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug consumption for nearly a 3-month period. The collection process is straightforward, the alteration is somewhat challenging, and it facilitates easy transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, with around 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil), collected nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and tests beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler's scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair may be utilized. By head hair, we mean exclusively scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four core stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing into the lab's system. This stage ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data input not available via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes a preliminary rapid assessment for drug abuse. While it serves as an economical method to dismiss drug presence in most samples, court validity requires confirmation of positive screens. Samples with a presumptive positive outcome in Screening need secondary confirmation.

For samples presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is drawn from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most intricate methodology to execute.

Confirmation of positive screening results is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS analyses. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples undergo washing as needed. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can track drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited window.
• Cheating difficulty: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical insight: It offers a pattern of drug consumption over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Recent use detection: Drugs are detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally more costly than alternate testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although sometimes called "hair follicle tests," the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

• Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing offers superior detection and reliability, especially in Collingswood, NJ, ensuring accurate results.
• Employers benefit from the extended detection window of hair tests, while traditional urine tests fall short in longer-term assessments.

Extended Detection Window

• Extended Drug Detection: Hair tests cover up to 90 days, presenting a detailed history of substance use beyond what urine tests offer.
• Comprehensive Viewpoint: Employers gain a broader perspective on an individual's substance habits, assisting in informed hiring and management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

• Reduced Risks: Hair follicle testing minimizes tampering vulnerabilities, securing reliable results free from adulteration concerns in Collingswood, NJ.
• Unquestionable Reliability: With hair tests, the integrity of the sample is assured, providing employers with trustworthy data.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

• Convenience and Accessibility: Our testing centers in Collingswood, NJ and nationwide make drug testing services accessible and hassle-free.
• Nationwide Availability: Quick and easy access ensures efficient testing procedures, accommodating clients conveniently.

Simple, Confidential Process

• Ease and Confidentiality: The process is straightforward and private, ensuring clients in Collingswood, NJ feel at ease throughout testing.
• User-Friendly: From ordering the test to obtaining results, we keep simplicity at the core, respecting user privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

• Cost-Effective Solutions: Our competitive pricing and fast turnaround offer excellent service value in Collingswood, NJ, regardless of company size.
• Budget-Friendly: Balancing affordability with high-quality service, we cater to diverse business demands efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

• Precision and Speed: Hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled accuracy in detecting substance use, with faster results than ever before in Collingswood, NJ.
• Accurate Detection: The tests provide reliable outcomes, ensuring the precise identification of drug and alcohol use, marking them as a top choice.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

• Enhanced Compliance: By adopting hair follicle testing, employers in Collingswood, NJ ensure adherence to drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks.
• Increased Safety: Such testing methods reinforce workplace safety and add peace of mind for all stakeholders involved.

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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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