Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kinnelon, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands. Hair retrieved near the scalp can offer a detection period of approximately 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Collection is easy, tampering is moderately challenging, and shipment is straightforward.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (akin to a #2 pencil), near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It is recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. Head hair refers solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in a lab's drug test result processing: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initiated into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial rapid check for drugs of abuse. While a cost-effective method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to hold in court. Presumptively positive samples in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If Screening presumes a sample positive, additional hair from the initial sample undergoes preparation for Extraction. Drugs are removed from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the challenge of hair drug screening.

Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples indicated presumptively positive, undergo washing as required before confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, whereas urine tests detect over a shorter duration.
• Hard to deceive: Hair drug testing is hard to manipulate, enhancing result accuracy.
• Informs historical data: It reveals drug use patterns over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Not for recent use detection: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Higher costs: Hair drug testing costs more than other methods.
• Result variations: Hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite the term "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand itself, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Kinnelon, NJ - Hair testing unquestionably surpasses urine tests by probing an extensive detection period. It is appreciated by employers for its consistency and excellent accuracy. Employers opt for hair tests due to their unparalleled ability to expose substance usage over a more extended timeline, unlike urine analysis.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Kinnelon, NJ - The primary advantage of hair follicle tests is their broad detection span, typically up to 90 days. This allows employers to acquire a clearer understanding of an employee's substance use history. By providing data over a longer period, these tests offer a holistic view of drug consumption patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Kinnelon, NJ - One of the most robust features of hair follicle testing is its remarkable resistance to sample tampering. The methodology employed makes it extremely difficult to alter results, providing accurate and unquestionable outcomes. This integrity ensures reliable results that employers can trust.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Kinnelon, NJ - With a broad network of testing centers, our services guarantee quick and hassle-free access. These strategically placed locations ensure that Kinnelon residents and businesses can efficiently meet drug-testing needs without unnecessary delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Kinnelon, NJ - A straightforward approach ensures ease from ordering to result receipt. Emphasizing confidentiality, the process is user-friendly and discreet, maintaining privacy at every step and addressing any concerns individuals may have regarding testing procedures.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Kinnelon, NJ - Competitive pricing paired with swift service turnaround offers unbeatable value. Clients benefit from our cost-effective pricing solutions, ensuring companies of every size receive exceptional service within budget and without delays, giving peace of mind with effective results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Kinnelon, NJ - Hair follicle drug tests offer remarkable precision, identifying substance use with high accuracy. This method delivers swift results, reassuring employers of its dependability. Rapid analysis is achieved by collecting a small hair sample, ensuring that even minute traces of substance use are detected efficiently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Kinnelon, NJ - Implementing hair follicle testing helps maintain a drug-free workplace and minimizes legal risks. It keeps companies aligned with compliance strategies while boosting safety by adhering to strict zero-tolerance policies, granting employers much-needed reassurance.

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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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