Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Riverside Park, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a comprehensive history of these substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of a growing strand. When taken near the scalp, it can offer a detection timeframe of up to three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair samples are easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment containing roughly 200 strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additions, and/or over 10-panel tests, 150mg is advised. It’s best to weigh the hair using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equal portion of body hair can be used. By head hair, we solely mean scalp hair. Body hair designates all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Procedure Summary

The laboratory process for processing drug test results involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the lab's system, including checking that it's properly sealed and shipped, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional required data entry lacking from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening acts as a preliminary quick test for substance abuse. Despite being an economical approach to dismiss most drug usage cases, a positive screening result requires verification to stand in court. All samples that test presumptive positive in Screening undergo secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods, such as urine or oral fluid, highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation for any positive Screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation if necessary. The whole laboratory operation from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 compliance.

Benefits of hair drug screening:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests with a shorter span.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair test is very challenging, making outcomes more reliable.
• Offers historical insight: It captures a timeline of drug use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Downsides:

• Can't identify recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair testing generally costs more than other drug testing techniques.
• Inconsistent results: Variables like hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", this examination assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine testing in Riverside Park, NJ, it's apparent that hair testing offers distinct advantages. Hair testing showcases superior detection accuracy and reliability.

Using hair samples allows for detecting substance use over a far longer time span, offering employers enhanced insights into an applicant or employee's history compared to the limited scope of urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Riverside Park, NJ, provides an extended detection window, covering up to 90 days of drug use. This longer detection period offers a comprehensive view of a person's substance history.

For employers in Riverside Park, understanding an applicant's or employee's past drug behavior is vital, and hair testing delivers unmatched insights into long-term substance use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Riverside Park, NJ, is a tamper-resistant method that significantly minimizes the chance of sample adulteration. This reliability ensures valid and unquestionable results.

The observed collection process inherent in hair testing reduces opportunities for tampering, providing peace of mind regarding the integrity of drug testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations across Riverside Park, NJ, and Nationwide. Our broad network ensures quick, easy access to screenings.

With local centers in Riverside Park, you can enjoy a hassle-free testing experience, supported by efficient service that accommodates the needs of diverse clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering and receiving hair follicle test results in Riverside Park, NJ, is both simple and confidential, protecting the privacy of individuals concerned about their testing.

By prioritizing user-friendly procedures paired with confidentiality, we address privacy concerns while ensuring the process remains straightforward and easy to navigate.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and swift turnaround make hair follicle testing in Riverside Park, NJ, a cost-effective choice for companies of any size, ensuring excellent value.

Knowing the financial and timing expectations help businesses plan effectively, benefiting from fast, reliable results paired with competitive pricing that assures peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and efficiency of hair follicle drug testing in Riverside Park, NJ, make it an ideal choice for accurate substance detection. These tests deliver superior accuracy in identifying substance use, significantly surpassing more conventional methods.

With streamlined processes, hair follicle tests provide quick and reliable results, ensuring that accurate information is made available without delay and enhancing overall drug testing confidence in Riverside Park.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Riverside Park, NJ, compliance with workplace drug policies is critical. Hair follicle testing helps maintain these standards, reducing potential legal liabilities.

Utilizing hair testing not only strengthens workplace safety but also provides employers peace of mind, knowing they are upholding drug-free work environments effectively.

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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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