Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Rancocas, NJ

What it is, How it works

The analysis of hair has emerged as an influential means for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair strands encapsulate a prolonged timeline of substance consumption by preserving biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can yield a detection period extending up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

Securing a sample of 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For assessments such as EtG, additional panels, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It is advisable to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable portion of body hair may be gathered. The term "head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug testing result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This task involves ensuring that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening signifies an initial expedient evaluation for drugs of abuse. This stage serves as a cost-effective measure to exclude drug usage in most samples; however, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be considered valid in legal proceedings. Presumptively positive samples in Screening mandate further confirmation.

When Screening suggests a sample is presumptively positive, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations lower than those in alternate methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underlying the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before confirmation, all samples deemed presumptively positive undergo washing as required. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use over a duration of up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter window offered by urine tests.
• Resistant to deception: Hair drug tests are notably challenging to compromise, ensuring heightened accuracy in results.
• Illustrates usage patterns: Hair analysis traces a timeline of drug consumption, revealing not just immediate usage but habitual patterns.

Limitations:

• Delay in detection post-use: It typically requires 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Higher expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier than other drug testing methodologies.
• Variabilities in outcomes: Individual factors such as hair color and growth rates may influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair samples.

Note: Though commonly dubbed "hair follicle tests," the evaluation studies the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Rancocas, NJ, surpasses traditional urine tests in several ways, offering superior detection accuracy and reliability.

Compared to urine, hair tests are less susceptible to manipulation, thus providing a more trustworthy assessment of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests performed in Rancocas, NJ, boast an extended detection window, uncovering drug use up to 90 days.

This extended timeframe offers employers a detailed look at an individual's substance use history, enabling informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Rancocas, NJ, significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering, ensuring the reliability of results.

Such resistance to adulteration secures the integrity of the test outcomes, providing peace of mind to all stakeholders.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our widespread testing locations nationwide, including Rancocas, NJ, offer convenience and ease of access to services.

This network facilitates fast and hassle-free testing experiences for individuals and companies alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Rancocas, NJ, is both simple and confidential.

This straightforward approach ensures user privacy while maintaining ease and efficiency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, Rancocas, NJ, hair follicle testing delivers excellent value to companies of all sizes.

This makes the testing option both affordable and timely, meeting the budgetary and operational needs of employers.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Rancocas, NJ, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and speed. Their high accuracy makes them a preferred choice, quickly detecting substance use.

The swiftness of these tests ensures rapid results, crucial for employers who need timely information.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

By employing hair follicle testing in Rancocas, NJ, employers can achieve compliance with drug-free workplace policies.

This approach not only mitigates legal risks but also bolsters workplace safety and productivity.

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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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