Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Oceanport, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a formidable method for identifying the usage of drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a lengthy record of substance intake by securing biomarkers within the strands' fibers as they grow. If taken near the scalp, hair samples can offer up to a roughly 3-month period of detection for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, notably challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch sample of approximately 200 strands of hair (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the best sample size for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. It is advisable to weigh the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair can't be obtained, a similar amount of body hair might be used. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair refers to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four fundamental steps in the lab processing of a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of inputting a sample into a lab's system. This step includes verifying that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid check for drugs of abuse. Even though Screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug usage for most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be legally admissible. Any samples that are tentatively positive in Screening need a second confirmation.

If a sample is tentatively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the primary specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are drawn from hair at much smaller concentrations than in other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is considered the most challenging technique to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive result from the screening phase is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all tentative positive samples are washed as needed. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Difficult to deceive: It is highly challenging to defeat a hair drug test, which enhances accuracy.
• Historical insight: It can illustrate a history of drug use over a timeframe, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs generally take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the testing actually targets the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Oceanport, NJ, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing through superior detection and reliability. Compared to urine tests, hair analysis detects a broader range of substances over extended periods. Its accuracy in capturing long-term usage makes it a preferable option, providing a clearer substance use history, minimizing false negatives found in urine tests.

Advantages of Hair Testing:

• Prolonged detection window
• Harder to evade than urine tests
• Accurate chronic drug usage insights

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Oceanport, NJ, offers an extended window for drug detection, spanning up to 90 days. This method provides a thorough understanding of a person's substance use history, proving especially valuable for employers interested in evaluating long-term habits. It covers a broader timeline than traditional tests, offering a comprehensive view.

The ability to review three months of usage data gives a detailed risk assessment, empowering employers to make informed decisions. This extensive window outperforms other tests limited to detecting recent use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Oceanport, NJ, hair follicle tests are markedly resistant to tampering, offering reliable and trustworthy results. Unlike other methods, the difficulty in altering hair samples ensures results are accurate and untampered, providing confidence in substance use verification.

The rigorous testing protocols anticipate potential adulteration attempts. The inherent robustness of hair testing enhances trust among employers who rely on unquestionable evidence, thus fostering a transparent drug testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing centers in Oceanport, NJ, offer convenience through strategically located sites nationwide. Accessing our services is hassle-free, ensuring you receive quick and efficient assistance no matter where you are. The widespread network of locations provides ease of use for all clients.

Convenience: With our extensive reach, we minimize travel time and ensure seamless service integration, maintaining continuity and consistent quality wherever you seek our testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Oceanport, NJ, our drug testing process is simple and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease for every client. The straightforward approach to ordering tests, collecting samples, and receiving results emphasizes our commitment to user-friendliness while safeguarding personal and professional information.

This seamless procedure alleviates concerns over privacy and encourages a sense of trust and efficiency, which is pivotal in maintaining participant confidence in the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and quick turnaround in Oceanport, NJ, our hair follicle testing is both affordable and efficient. Designed to provide excellent value, our services fit the needs of companies of all sizes, delivering precise results that help inform decision-making without breaking the budget.

Quick processing times coupled with cost-effective solutions ensure exceptional service delivery. This balance of affordability and efficiency enhances weighing cost against the value of reliable, prompt results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Oceanport, NJ, offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. With the capability to detect substance use with high precision, these tests provide dependable outcomes. Their speed and meticulous nature ensure that once a sample is collected, results are swiftly processed, giving employers crucial information without delay.

Our commitment to accuracy in Oceanport ensures each hair analysis unveils a clear picture of drug use. High detection rates make it a trusted ally for employers needing dependable verification. Hair tests surpass other testing methods with meticulous results and impressive turnaround times.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Oceanport, NJ, find compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method assures observance of drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing safety. By adopting this method, employers align with industry standards and project a professional, responsible image.

Hair testing supports comprehensive policy enforcement, ensuring all staff adhere to strict guidelines, contributing to the overall well-being of the workforce and sustaining a productive 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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