Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Harmony, NJ

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record of substance use by encapsulating biomarkers within the growing hair. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and other drugs. It is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with roughly 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) collected nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation processes. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weight of 150mg is advised. It's best to use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen properly. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. 'Head hair' refers specifically to scalp hair, while 'body hair' includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing into the laboratory’s records, which involves verifying sample sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent from the electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug use for most samples, any positive result requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Presumptive positives found in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

When a sample tests preliminarily positive during Screening, further hair is retrieved from the initial sample for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than those found using other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is considered a challenging method.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are typically washed before confirmation. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can reveal drug consumption for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Resistance to tampering: Hair drug tests are very challenging to falsify, resulting in more accurate outcomes.
• Historical usage data: It provides an overall pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair about 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically costs more than other testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites within the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," this test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Harmony, NJ, hair follicle tests outshine urine testing by offering unparalleled accuracy and reliability. They ensure superior detection of drug use, making them the preferred choice.

Compared to traditional urine tests, hair testing provides detailed insights into substance use, assuring employers of its efficacy.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Harmony, NJ, benefit from hair follicle tests' extended detection window of up to 90 days. These tests afford a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use history.

Covering a much more prolonged use period, hair tests provide thorough insights into users' habits, proving invaluable for informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The robustness of hair follicle tests in Harmony, NJ, ensures minimized risk of tampering, delivering trustworthy outcomes that can't be easily altered.

This testing method enhances result integrity by significantly reducing the possibility of sample adulteration, offering peace of mind.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing centers nationwide, Accredited Drug Testing ensures seamless and quick access to services for Harmony, NJ residents.

National reach and local accessibility make testing hassle-free and efficient, catering to the needs of all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing in Harmony, NJ, provides a straightforward and private procedure for obtaining and reviewing test results, addressing privacy concerns.

The user-friendly process assures confidentiality, making it easy to navigate through ordering and receiving results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Harmony, NJ, benefits from Accredited Drug Testing's competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, providing excellent value to companies of all sizes.

Fast and affordable, these tests offer peace of mind, ensuring businesses remain within budgetary constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing offers exceptional precision and speed, ideal for obtaining accurate results in Harmony, NJ. These tests quickly detect substance use, ensuring results reflect true substance history.

With high accuracy rates, hair follicle tests promptly identify drugs and alcohol, making them a reliable choice for thorough assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle tests in Harmony, NJ, guarantee compliance with drug-free workplace policies, thus reducing legal risks while ensuring safety standards.

Employers gain from hair testing's efficacy, promoting a secure workplace atmosphere and adhering to regulatory requirements.

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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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