Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Peapack, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The structure of hair captures biomarkers from alcohol and other substances as the hair grows, offering a substantive record of usage. When acquired near the scalp, hair can reveal drug or alcohol consumption within a timeline of up to three months. It's easy to gather, challenging to alter, and straightforward to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches with approximately 200 strands—akin to the width of a #2 pencil—yields 100mg, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation processes. For EtG or additional testing beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. The use of a jeweler's scale is advised for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used as an alternative. Scalp hair specifically refers to the hair growing from the head, while body hair encompasses all other kinds such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory process for determining drug test outcomes involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed within the lab's system. This stage ensures the sample is sealed and dispatched correctly, involves the assignment of a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry missing from the electronic chain of custody documentation.

In the Screening phase, an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse is conducted. While Screening is a cost-effective method to discount drug presence in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for validity in legal proceedings. Presumptively positive samples detected during Screening require subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample indicate presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, further hair is taken from the original sample for the Extraction process. Here, substances are drawn from hair at concentrations lower than those in other methods like urine or oral fluid analysis, making hair screening a challenging procedure.

The Confirmation of any positive screen result employs techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive specimens undergo washing prior to confirmation when needed. The entire lab process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use spanning up to 90 days, unlike urine assessments which have a shorter range.
• Hard to deceive: Hair drug tests are notably challenging to compromise, resulting in more precise outcomes.
• Reveals usage patterns: Offers insight into a timeline of drug usage, rather than only recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: It generally takes about 5-7 days for drugs to register in hair samples.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically incurs higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Result variations: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair samples.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", these assessments actually evaluate the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair Follicle Testing: The Superior Choice
In Peapack, NJ, hair follicle tests outshine traditional urine methods with their superior accuracy and reliability. The comprehensive detection capabilities of hair testing make it the preferred choice for many employers, reducing the risk of false negatives and ensuring a thorough evaluation of an individual's substance history, which urine tests often fail to provide.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Peapack, NJ, is invaluable to employers, offering insights into an individual's drug use history over 90 days. This longer timeframe provides a complete picture of an applicant or employee's substance habits, surpassing what is achievable through urine tests. It helps employers make informed decisions consistent with their drug-free policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Peapack, NJ, is a tamper-resistant method that minimizes the likelihood of adulteration, ensuring reliability and accuracy. This method mitigates the risk of sample manipulation, providing clear, trustworthy results that underpin the integrity of an organization's drug testing initiatives. Such robustness in testing assures employers of authenticity and accuracy in results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts numerous nationwide centers, including those in Peapack, NJ, facilitating a convenient and hassle-free testing experience. Our widespread network allows for easy access to reliable substance testing, ensuring that individuals and employers can swiftly address their testing needs at their nearest facility, saving time and effort.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Peapack, NJ, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and private, from ordering to results delivery. Our secure, confidential system respects user privacy, ensuring a smooth experience that addresses any concerns about process transparency and confidentiality, meeting both personal and regulatory standards effortlessly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and quick turnarounds, Accredited Drug Testing provides excellent value to businesses of all sizes in Peapack, NJ. Our cost-effective solutions ensure access to rapid test results without compromising quality, making drug testing affordable and efficient for any organization looking to enforce a drug-free environment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Peapack, NJ, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and rapid results, reflecting high accuracy in detecting substance usage. Employers and professionals favor this method as it ensures swift, reliable outcomes, simplifying decision-making regarding potential hires and maintaining drug-free environments. The combination of speed and reliability offered by hair testing enhances trust and reinforces safety protocols.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Peapack, NJ, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing's compliance benefits, adhering to drug-free workplace policies effectively. By leveraging this dependable testing methodology, businesses reduce legal risks and bolster workplace safety, enhancing their reputation and ensuring a secure environment for all employees.

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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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