Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Millington, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely recognized as a robust approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can reveal a long-term history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When taken from near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drug use. Hair is straightforward to collect, difficult to adulterate, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg, the perfect quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair might be used. Head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair includes other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core steps in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into the lab’s system. This process includes verifying the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for court admissibility. Presumptively positive Screening samples require further confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. At this point, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of positive screening results is accomplished using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation when required. The laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Resistance to tampering: It's challenging to cheat a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Patterns over time: Provides insights into a timeline of drug usage, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests tend to be more expensive than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth patterns can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Termed "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing
In Millington, NJ, hair tests surpass traditional urine analysis by delivering superior reliability and detection accuracy. Their ability to identify drug use over a 90-day window makes hair tests invaluable in verifying prolonged substance abstinence.

The extensive detection period coupled with the impossibility of tampering contributes to the rising preference for hair testing over urine testing by many institutions.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window
With capabilities that span up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Millington, NJ provides employers with an exhaustive insight into an individual's drug usage history. This method ensures a fuller picture of an applicant's or employee's patterns, thus facilitating informed decisions.

Such a lengthy detection timeline aids in recognizing long-term habits, making it a critical tool in pre-employment and workplace evaluations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method
In Millington, NJ, hair follicle testing significantly minimizes the chances of sample manipulation, yielding reliable and unimpeachable outcomes. The method's resistance to tampering hinges on its observed collection process and complex analysis.

This robust security reduces the incidence of fabricated results, establishing hair tests as a trustworthy choice for accurate drug detection.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations
Access to proficient hair follicle testing in Millington, NJ is streamlined through numerous centers nationwide, ensuring hassle-free, prompt service.

These strategically placed facilities make it convenient for users to reach testing sites, fostering an environment of ease and efficiency in the testing process, regardless of location.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process
In Millington, NJ, ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results is straightforward and private. This confidentiality reassures users, offering a seamless experience from start to finish.

By prioritizing privacy and simplicity, these procedures cater to individuals' concerns, fostering user confidence and ease throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround
Competitive pricing structures in Millington, NJ highlight the value offered by hair follicle testing services, coupled with swift turnaround times.

These economic advantages ensure that organizations of all sizes can benefit from reliable drug testing without straining their budgets, providing durable peace of mind and operational efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results
In Millington, NJ, hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed in analyzing substance use. The accuracy of these tests ensures that users receive dependable information quickly, allowing for prompt decision-making.

The efficiency of hair testing stems from its ability to detect a broad spectrum of substances, thus providing a comprehensive overview within a brief period. This swift process enhances workplace safety and compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers
Employers in Millington, NJ find assurance through hair follicle testing as it guarantees adherence to drug-free workplace mandates, mitigating legal risks and fortifying safety standards.

These tests provide peace of mind by promoting compliance with employment policies, lessening liability, and enhancing overall organizational security.

Drug Testing Near Millington, NJ

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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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