Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mickleton, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair screening has gained recognition as an advantageous method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of substance use by capturing biomarkers in the fibers of the expanding hair strand. When sourced near the scalp, hair can provide an approximate 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.

A sample length of 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil), sourced closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen size is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not available, a corresponding quantity of body hair may be collected. When specifying head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps in processing a drug test result in the laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning comprises the initial incorporation of a sample into a laboratory's framework. This step includes ensuring that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening serves as an economical method to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be permissible in a legal context. Samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening do need secondary confirmation.

If a sample is tentatively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are removed from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in alternative techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most intricate methodology to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening results is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All suggested positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as required. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which have a lesser detection window.
• Hard to manipulate: It's notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, resulting in more precise outcomes.
• Historical usage data: It can illustrate a timeline of drug use over a duration, not merely recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs usually become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally entail higher costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual variances in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Mickleton, NJ, hair follicle testing offers numerous advantages over traditional urine tests. Superior detection accuracy and reliability make hair tests a preferred choice. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis detects a broader range of substances over a longer period.

The capability of hair testing to identify drug use up to 90 days, in a non-intrusive manner, gives employers in Mickleton, NJ a significant advantage over the limited time frame offered by urine tests, ensuring a comprehensive overview of drug use.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Mickleton, NJ benefit from the extended detection window provided by hair follicle testing. Spanning up to 90 days, this method surpasses the capabilities of traditional tests.

This prolonged detection window gives employers a more holistic view of an individual’s substance use history, making it a trusted choice for continuous drug monitoring. This feature ensures that any past drug use is comprehensively tracked over several months.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Located in Mickleton, NJ, the hair follicle testing method significantly minimizes the risk of sample tampering. Reduced adulteration potential means that samples are reliable and results are unassailable.

This tamper-resistant nature of hair testing creates trust in the methodology, providing results that stakeholders can depend on for valid decision-making processes, unmatched by other testing methods that may be prone to manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Mickleton, NJ and its surroundings benefit from our widespread testing locations, enhancing convenience. Our centers, strategically positioned nationwide, offer seamless access to testing services.

The ease of access for employers ensures that all clients can benefit from quick and hassle-free hair follicle testing. This extensive network supports a more streamlined testing process for individuals and organizations alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Mickleton, NJ, undergoing hair follicle testing is a simple and confidential process. Our streamlined approach ensures clients can order, conduct the test, and receive results with privacy and ease.

Client privacy is of utmost importance, embedded in the entire testing process. This ensures the confidentiality of results, reducing concerns about personal information security for all participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Mickleton, NJ, our hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, making it accessible for companies of all sizes. This method provides a high value-to-cost ratio.

Delivering results efficiently ensures businesses can act quickly, benefitting from both excellent pricing structures and reliable services that meet budgetary needs while maintaining high standards.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Mickleton, NJ, hair follicle drug testing presents a rapid and accurate method to identify substance use. Accuracy and speed are vital factors; this test excels in both by offering quick results with high precision in detecting drug and alcohol consumption.

This method stands out for its reliability, ensuring outstanding accuracy levels across numerous testing centers nationwide. The results provided not only offer speed but also ensure a high level of trustworthiness in drug testing outcomes, making it a preferable choice for many.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Mickleton, NJ, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies, reducing the risk of legal complications while improving safety.

This testing approach not only ensures that companies adhere to regulations but also provides peace of mind through maintaining a drug-free environment, fostering a safer and more productive workplace by efficiently detecting a history of substance use.

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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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