Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Neptune City, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair preserves a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month history of alcohol and other drug use. Collecting hair is straightforward, less prone to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section, equivalent to 200 strands of hair (approximately the size of a number #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample amount for analysis. For tests involving EtG, additional panels, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample weight. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab processing of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially logged into a lab’s system, which includes ensuring the sample is properly sealed and sent, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening acts as a preliminary inspection for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an affordable means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates verification for legal admissibility. Any samples that presumptively test positive in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

When a sample shows presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is obtained from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in alternatives such as urine or oral fluid, making hair drug testing one of the most intricate methodologies.

Confirmation of a positive screening outcome is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can capture drug use over a 90-day period, while urine tests offer a shorter detection horizon.
• Hard to evade: Overcoming a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing the reliability of results.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically pricier compared to other methods.
• Variability in results: Aspects like hair color and individual growth rates may influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis occurs on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Neptune City, NJ, hair follicle testing triumphs over urine testing by offering superior detection capabilities. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle exams provide an extended detection period, ensuring higher accuracy and reliability. With a more comprehensive evaluation, hair testing becomes an essential tool for those seeking thorough results.

Extended Detection Window

Neptune City, NJ, it's crucial to consider the extended detection window of hair follicle testing. Spanning up to 90 days, this testing method offers employers a broad view of an applicant or employee's substance use history. This prolonged detection capability ensures a more thorough evaluation compared to other testing options.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Neptune City, NJ, provides a tamper-resistant method of substance detection. This approach significantly reduces the chance of sample adulteration, ensuring results that are both credible and undeniable. This reliability makes hair testing an effective tool for employers who need trustworthy outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations throughout Neptune City, NJ, and nationwide. Our extensive network of centers makes accessing testing services quick, easy, and hassle-free. Whether local or nationwide, our services are readily available to meet your needs efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Neptune City, NJ, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is simple, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use. Our secure and user-friendly approach instills confidence in the testing process for all participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround, our hair follicle testing services in Neptune City, NJ, provide exceptional value. Our cost-effective structure caters to companies of all sizes, ensuring you receive quick and reliable results without sacrificing affordability. Partner with us for your testing needs today.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Neptune City, NJ, offers speedy, precise, and dependable results. The process is efficient and delivers accurate readings swiftly. Detecting substance use with a high degree of accuracy, hair testing outperforms other methods with its reliability and quick turnaround, ensuring you get results without unnecessary delays.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Neptune City, NJ, gain compliance and peace of mind by using hair follicle tests. This method aligns with workplace drug-free policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing safety. By ensuring adherence to strict testing standards, employers can maintain a secure and compliant work environment.

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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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