Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Liberty Corner, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair retains a long-term history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When gathered near the scalp, hair can potentially provide a detection window of up to 3 months for substances like alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch length consisting of roughly 200 hairs (around the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimum sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or panels over 10, 150mg of hair is suggested. It’s advisable to weigh the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be taken. In references to head hair, it implies scalp hair only, whereas body hair refers to all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result is divided into four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning comprises the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This process involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and transported, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any outstanding data input not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening denotes an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly method to exclude drug usage on most samples, a positive result must be confirmed before it can be legally accepted. Presumptively positive samples from the Screening phase necessitate secondary confirmation.

In the event of a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, more hair is retrieved from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are withdrawn from the hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing presents the most challenges in terms of methodology.

To confirm any positive Screening outcome, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods are utilized. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation, as required. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning through Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have shorter detection periods.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers chronological data: It delivers a timeline of substance use over an extended duration, not solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to other testing types.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth differences can alter drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the actual test assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Liberty Corner, NJ, hair follicle testing is favored over traditional urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy. It offers a longer observation period for substance presence.

Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide a more reliable analysis by minimizing the chance of false negatives, thus securing a better assessment of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Liberty Corner, NJ employs hair follicle testing for its extended detection window. Unlike other tests, hair analysis shows drug use history for up to 90 days.

Employers favor this method as it provides a broader view of an individual's substance history, offering a more comprehensive background than shorter-term testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Liberty Corner, NJ, hair follicle tests significantly reduce tampering risks, ensuring authentic results. They are designed to quickly identify adulteration.

These tests offer undeniable results, providing parties with assurance that the samples are accurate and their integrity securely maintained.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Liberty Corner, NJ residents benefit from convenient testing locations thanks to our vast testing network. Our centers enable swift, seamless access to necessary services.

Our nationwide presence ensures easy testing procedures, saving time and effort for each individual needing drug or alcohol assessments.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Liberty Corner, NJ, our drug testing process remains simple and confidential. Clients can easily order, complete their tests, and access results, all with privacy assured.

We maintain customer confidence by streamlining testing, providing straightforward methods that respect user privacy and confidentiality at each stage.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Featuring competitive pricing and quick turnaround, Liberty Corner, NJ offers affordable hair testing solutions. Companies benefit from our economical options.

Fast results and budget-friendly tests deliver great value, ensuring businesses of all sizes can efficiently manage substance testing with peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Liberty Corner, NJ, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their ability to detect substance use with high precision makes them a preferred choice for many organizations.

Employers and other stakeholders trust hair testing due to its unmatched accuracy, ensuring timely and dependable detection of drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Liberty Corner, NJ employers find peace of mind with hair follicle testing, aligning with drug-free workplace policies. It reduces legal risks and enhances safety.

By ensuring compliance and a safer work environment, employers enjoy reduced liabilities and improved operational consistency through reliable testing practices.

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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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