Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Readington, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive timeline of substance intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol usage for up to roughly a three-month period. It's easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample size of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will produce 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is recommended. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. References to head hair solely relate to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the step where a sample is initially processed into a lab's system. This step involves ensuring the sample's seal and shipment integrity, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any additional data entry not covered by an electronic custody system.

Screening is a preliminary, swift check to identify drugs of abuse. While Screening generally offers a cost-efficient way to exclude drug utilization in most samples, a positive initial Screening result necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

If a specimen is flagged as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations than those found using other methods (like urine or oral fluids), making hair drug testing among the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of positive Screening results is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as required. The laboratory procedures from Accessioning to Confirmation are scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug testing can uncover drug use up to 90 days prior, whereas urine tests offer a shorter window.
• Challenge to compromise: Manipulating a hair drug test is extremely tough, ensuring result precision.
• Chronological usage insight: It offers an indication of drug use patterns over time as opposed to solely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent intake: Drugs become traceable in hair approximately 5-7 days following use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is often costlier than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences might influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Outperforms Urine Testing: In Readington, NJ, hair follicle drug tests are preferred over traditional urine testing due to their superior detection capabilities. Hair testing ensures accurate substance identification with a far-reaching detection window. Employers and agencies value the reliability it provides in maintaining drug-free environments, reducing the guesswork involved in evaluating substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window: One of the remarkable benefits of hair follicle testing in Readington, NJ, is its ability to detect substance usage over an extended timeframe, up to 90 days. This gives employers a comprehensive overview of an individual's drug use history, ensuring more targeted and informed hiring decisions. The extensive detection period surpasses the limitations of standard urine tests, making hair tests an invaluable tool.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Reliable and Tamper-Resistant: Hair follicle testing in Readington, NJ, provides an effective solution against the risks of sample tampering and adulteration. The nature of hair testing ensures results are trustworthy and less susceptible to manipulation, unlike other methods. This integrity makes hair tests the go-to choice for those seeking definitive, uncontested drug use evidence.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Across the Nation: In Readington, NJ, and beyond, our testing centers provide straightforward and accessible hair follicle testing services. With locations nationwide, individuals and businesses can seamlessly access the necessary testing facilities. This broad presence ensures minimal inconvenience and maximizes the ease with which tests can be conducted, regardless of location.

Simple, Confidential Process

Effortless and Confidential: Our process in Readington, NJ, for hair follicle testing is designed to be simple and discreet. Ordering, performing the test, and receiving results is straightforward, with privacy maintained throughout the procedure. This ensures ease of use without compromising personal information, thereby addressing concerns and enhancing user experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective and Prompt Service: In Readington, NJ, we offer competitive pricing structures for hair follicle testing, coupled with fast turnaround times. These benefits provide excellent value, particularly for businesses of various sizes. Ensuring affordability without sacrificing quality allows us to support organizations in maintaining compliance efficiently and economically.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Accurate Results: In Readington, NJ, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision and speed. This method ensures reliable detection of various substances, offering unparalleled accuracy. Such efficiency is crucial for employers and legal entities seeking trustworthy results. Hair tests provide a quick turnaround with detailed insights beyond surface-level screening.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind: For Readington, NJ employers, hair follicle testing is a key component in maintaining workplace safety and compliance with drug-free policies. By adopting this method, businesses minimize legal risks and foster a secure, productive environment. Such practices reassure stakeholders and enhance organizational integrity, reducing the potential for drug-related disruptions.

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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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