Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Sharon, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers an extended historical profile of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the growing strand fibers. When acquired near the scalp, hair can yield data on alcohol and drug use for a period of up to around three months. The collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly equal to a #2 pencil's thickness) adjacent to the scalp, produces 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses surpassing ten panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest verifying the specimen's weight using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair is an alternative. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair only, whereas body hair encompasses all other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the phase where a sample is first processed into a laboratory’s system, which includes ensuring the sample's secure sealing and transport, the assignment of a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry that was not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a swift preliminary test for drugs. Though Screening provides an affordable method to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive result from this stage needs confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples with presumptions of positivity in Screening must undergo a subsequent confirmation.

For samples with presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. At this juncture, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most technically demanding methodology.

The confirmation for any positive screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples viewed as presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation, if necessary. The full laboratory procedure—from Accessioning to Confirmation—is scrutinized according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: While urine tests have a more limited timeframe, hair drug tests can reveal drug usage for approximately 90 days.
• Reduced risk of manipulation: Hair drug tests are difficult to fake, enhancing result reliability.
• Reflects usage trends: This method displays drug use patterns over time, rather than solely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs need roughly 5-7 days to register in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing often incurs higher costs than other methods.
• Results variability: Drug metabolite levels in hair can be influenced by hair color and individual growth rate variations.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The superiority of hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests lies in its accuracy. In New Sharon, NJ, individuals and organizations alike lean towards hair testing for its reliability and precision in substance detection.

Unlike urine tests, hair testing offers a clear advantage by offering a broader detection window, eliminating chances of evasion.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in New Sharon, NJ favor hair follicle testing as it offers an extended detection window. By analyzing the hair samples, companies receive a thorough overview of a person's drug use over up to 90 days.

With extended detection, it allows for a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history, crucial for informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method that significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration. In New Sharon, NJ, this ensures reliability in results, as altering hair samples is nearly impossible.

This method stands out by providing unquestionable results, assuring employers of the authenticity of the test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient and easily accessible nationwide testing centers alongside local facilities in New Sharon, NJ. This extensive network simplifies the testing process, providing hassle-free and prompt services to all.

With multiple centers available, individuals have ready access to efficient drug testing services, minimizing inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, undergoing, and receiving results from hair follicle tests in New Sharon, NJ is simple and confidential. This ensures clients' private information remains secure, addressing privacy and confidentiality concerns effectively.

Emphasizing ease of use, the testing services are made user-friendly, encouraging more individuals to adopt this method.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in New Sharon, NJ provides great value. This makes it attractive for businesses of all sizes, seeking a cost-effective way to ensure workplace safety.

The efficient processes ensure that clients receive quick results, aligning with their budget without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests are renowned in New Sharon, NJ, for their speed and accuracy. By examining samples meticulously, they ensure a high level of accuracy in identifying substance use, making them superior to other testing methods.

The swift turnaround obtained through hair testing allows employers to make informed decisions faster, enhancing overall efficiency in workplace compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle tests enables employers in New Sharon, NJ to maintain compliance with their drug-free policies. It mitigates legal liabilities while boosting workplace safety, creating a peaceful and secure work environment.

With accurate detection methods, companies can uphold their standards, ensuring peace of mind and adherence to regulations.

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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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