Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Leisure Knoll, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair examination has gained recognition as a potent method for detecting substance use of drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a long-lasting history of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand fibers as they grow. When gathered near the scalp, hair offers a detection timeframe of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively secure from tampering, and conveniently transportable.

A 1.5-inch piece of around 200 strands of hair (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for assessment and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a quantity of 150mg is advised. It's suggested to utilize a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If head hair isn’t available, a similar quantity of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test outcome includes four essential phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial processing stage for incorporating a sample into a laboratory's system. This step verifies the sample's seal and shipment correctness, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an introductory swift assessment for detecting drug misuse. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient means for discounting drug consumption in most samples, confirmation of a positive result is necessary for legal admissibility. Samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample exhibits a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial batch and prepped for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are removed from hair at notably reduced concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methods to execute.

Confirmation of any positive result from screening is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as required. The full lab process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair tests can identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to rig: Hair drug tests are quite hard to deceive, thereby providing more reliable results.
• Yields historical insight: It depicts a usage pattern over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair around 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are pricier than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis pertains to the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair and urine testing in Leisure Knoll, NJ, hair follicle tests offer distinct advantages. They deliver superior detection accuracy and are less susceptible to manipulation. Unlike traditional urine tests where recent use might elude detection, hair tests provide a thorough account of past substance consumption.
Hair follicle tests outperform by being more reliable and offering a broader detection timeframe.

Extended Detection Window

In Leisure Knoll, NJ, hair follicle testing provides an expanded detection window, offering insights into drug use over a 90-day period. This duration surpasses the limits of typical urine analysis and grants employers a comprehensive assessment of an individual's substance history.
This extended coverage period ensures a more detailed understanding of past behaviors, informing safer workplace decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing significantly minimizes the risk of tampering in Leisure Knoll, NJ. The method's resilience to adulteration ensures credible and validated outcomes. This integrity makes it near impossible for results to be compromised, offering unmatched assurance.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair testing guarantees trustworthy results, protecting the accuracy and reliability of the test process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Leisure Knoll, NJ, convenient access to hair follicle testing is assured through our widespread network of facilities. With nationwide testing centers, locating a test site nearby is simple, facilitating a swift and seamless testing experience.
Our strategically located facilities guarantee swift and easy access, minimizing travel inconveniences for restful convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Leisure Knoll, NJ, is straightforward and confidential from order to result retrieval. Each step is designed to guarantee privacy while ensuring simplicity, alleviating concerns around data protection.
By focusing on ease of use and security, we provide a seamless and confidential testing experience for all clients.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Leisure Knoll, NJ, our hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing and expedited turnaround times, delivering exceptional value and convenience for businesses of varying sizes. Our cost-effective solutions ensure accessibility while maintaining high-quality standards.
Affordable and swift, our testing services provide economic and timely solutions efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Leisure Knoll, NJ, stands out for its speed and precision. Unlike conventional methods, hair tests offer remarkably high accuracy levels, ensuring reliable detection of substance use. This testing process not only delivers fast results but also maintains trust through its dependable analysis capabilities.
A swift and accurate methodology, hair tests effectively identify substance use, catering to urgent assessment needs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Leisure Knoll, NJ, gain immense peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. The method effectively reduces legal risks and reinforces workplace safety. With stringent regulations, businesses find security in consistently reliable test outcomes.
Implementing hair tests helps uphold strict compliance, fortifying organizational integrity and safety.

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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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