Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Franklin, NJ

What it is, How it works

Seen as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption, hair testing offers a long-term record of substance usage by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When sampled near the scalp, hair can potentially reveal alcohol and drug usage history spanning up to three months. Collection of hair is straightforward, harder to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 hair strands—comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil—close to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the preferred sample size for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG add-ons, or tests that include more than 10 panels, collecting 150mg of hair is advisable. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. In the absence of sufficient scalp hair, a similar amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair indicate solely scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test involves four essential steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab’s system, ensuring the sample is properly sealed and shipped, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concluding any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening executes an initial swift evaluation for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective alternative to exclude drug usage in the majority of samples, any positive results require Confirmation to qualify for legal proceedings. Samples showing preliminary positive results in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

During the Screening phase, if a sample presents as preliminary positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for the Extraction phase. In this stage, substances are isolated from hair at lower concentrations as opposed to other techniques (e.g., urine or saliva), positioning hair drug screening as a challenging methodology to perform.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods are employed for the Confirmation of any positive Screening outcomes. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is vetted according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug evaluations can trace drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a more limited detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Offers historic insights: It documents a timeline of drug usage over time, rather than just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: Drugs in hair become detectable approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Typically, hair drug tests incur higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Variable outcomes: Differences such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle located under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The benefits of hair follicle testing surpass traditional urine tests in Franklin, NJ. It offers superior detection accuracy and reliability, ensuring that even minimal substance use isn't overlooked. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing captures a broad spectrum of drug use over an extended period, providing a more complete analysis of an individual's substance history, which is crucial for employers.

The hair follicle test distinctly reduces opportunities for cheating as its collection is observed. Urine tests, on the other hand, are vulnerable to tampering through dilution or substitution. Hair testing emerges as the preferred method in many professional and legal scenarios, due to its undeniable reliability.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Franklin, NJ prefer hair follicle testing for its extended detection window. This method identifies drug use over a period of up to 90 days, providing a complete view of an individual's drug use. This extended window is critical for employers aiming to mitigate workplace risks and ensure compliance with drug-free policies.

Hair testing's ability to track long-term drug use offers a deeper understanding of an individual's behavior patterns. Employers benefit from this comprehensive screening, as it helps in assessing the suitability of candidates and current employees, thus maintaining a safe working environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The combative approach that hair follicle tests take toward sample adulteration makes them a preferred choice in Franklin, NJ. The test's design inherently minimizes the risk of tampering, ensuring reliable and unquestionable results. This method's integrity is crucial for management and legal bodies who rely on accurate results to make informed decisions.

Hair testing's robustness lies in its collection process, which is observed, thus deterring attempts to alter the sample. This characteristic sets it apart from other testing methods like urine tests, where tampering is easier and thus more prevalent.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing facilities scattered across the nation, including in Franklin, NJ, accessing convenient testing locations has never been easier. Accredited Drug Testing ensures fast and hassle-free access to services, allowing employers and individuals to conduct tests without inconvenience, at both local and nationwide levels.

Our expansive network of testing centers means that clients can schedule tests at their convenience, making it simple to maintain compliance without disrupting daily operations. This accessibility is vital for both individuals and organizations seeking timely drug testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Franklin, NJ, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to conducting the test and receiving results, the process is designed to protect privacy while being easy to navigate. This simplicity ensures that individuals can undergo testing without concerns about their personal information being compromised.

Confidentiality is prioritized throughout our procedures, instilling trust and ensuring compliance with privacy standards. The user-friendly process allows for efficient test scheduling, collecting, and reporting—addressing potential privacy concerns customers may have.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Across Franklin, NJ, our competitive pricing ensures that hair follicle testing remains affordable for companies of all sizes. The quick turnaround time of these tests provides additional value, reinforcing their worth as an investment for maintaining workplace safety and compliance.

Companies will find that the combination of affordability and fast results supports efficient operations and decision-making. With pricing structures tailored to benefit both large enterprises and small businesses, hair follicle testing becomes a viable option for all.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Franklin, NJ are lauded for their speed and accuracy in detecting substance use. These tests offer quick and precise results, ensuring confidence in their findings. The procedure minimizes delays and provides employers and individuals with timely information, making it a preferred choice for those seeking reliable solutions.

The robust nature of this testing method allows for the detection of a wide range of substances, creating a comprehensive picture of the subject's drug use history. This accuracy is vital for making informed decisions in workplace and legal situations, where knowledge of substance use can significantly impact outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Franklin, NJ, hair follicle testing guarantees compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This testing not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances safety at the workplace by detecting drug use with high accuracy. Relying on hair tests gives employers peace of mind, knowing that the work environment remains safe and compliant with regulatory standards.

Employers can take comfort in knowing that these tests provide consistent and reliable results, thus reducing the potential for disputes over drug-related issues. Maintaining a drug-free workplace becomes more feasible when using a method that holds individuals accountable.

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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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