Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Roseville, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can indicate alcohol and drug intake for up to around three months. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A specimen of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately as thick as a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, ideal for initial screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, additional testing, or when exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It's advisable to measure the specimen using a jeweler's scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent volume of body hair can be utilized. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps for laboratory processing of a drug testing result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab's system. This encompasses ensuring the sample is appropriately sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Though Screening serves as a cost-effective approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive result must be corroborated for court admissibility. Samples testing positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample show a potential positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is retrieved from the initial collection for Extraction. At this phase, substances are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug testing one of the most intricate methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All tentative positive samples are cleansed before Confirmation as required. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is supervised under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can trace drug usage for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Difficult to falsify: Hair testing is notably hard to evade, yielding more reliable results.
• Tracks historical usage: It presents a history of drug consumption over an extended period, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It takes around 5-7 days for substances to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing often costs more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variances: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Roseville, NJ

Superb Detection Accuracy
Hair follicle testing offers unparalleled precision in drug detection compared to traditional urine tests. Its long detection window reveals usage history that urine tests might miss, providing a superior level of accuracy and reliability.

Comprehensive Analysis
Employers in Roseville, NJ benefit from the broad-spectrum analysis that hair testing provides. Unlike urine tests, which may miss drugs taken outside their short window, hair testing covers a longer substance use timeline.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Roseville, NJ

Long-term Substance Use Monitoring
Hair follicle testing provides unmatched coverage of drug use, effectively extending the detection window to up to 90 days. This broad view grants employers deeper insights into an applicant's drug-taking history, far beyond what urine tests can reveal.

Comprehensive Insight
With the ability to track substances over several months, hair testing ensures a thorough examination of an employee or candidate, providing a more accurate picture of their habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Roseville, NJ

Unquestionable Authenticity
The risk of sample tampering significantly decreases with hair follicle testing. While urine samples can often be altered, hair tests are resistant to manipulation, offering genuinely reliable outcomes.

Secure and Dependable
For employers in Roseville, NJ, trusting the authenticity of test results builds confidence in the hiring process and helps maintain rigorous substance use policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Roseville, NJ

Ease of Access
Accredited Drug Testing offers extensive local and nationwide centers, providing convenient access to hair follicle testing in Roseville, NJ and beyond.

Hassle-Free Experience
With multiple testing sites, individuals benefit from swift and easy access to services, ensuring that testing is neither cumbersome nor time-consuming.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Roseville, NJ

Streamlined Procedures
Ordering, conducting, and receiving test results is a straightforward and private process, ensuring absolute confidentiality and simplicity for all involved.

Prioritizing Privacy
With an emphasis on discretion, Accredited Drug Testing respects individual privacy throughout the testing procedure, offering peace of mind to all clients in Roseville, NJ.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Roseville, NJ

Competitive Rates
Offering value for money, our hair follicle testing services in Roseville, NJ ensure affordability without sacrificing quality or reliability.

Quick and Reliable
Businesses of all sizes benefit from rapid turnaround times, which, paired with cost-effective pricing structures, provide excellent service at an attractive cost point.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Roseville, NJ

High Precision
Hair follicle drug tests provide highly accurate detection of substances, offering detailed insights into an individual's usage. This precision helps employers make informed decisions based on reliable results.

Speed and Efficiency
Beyond accuracy, these tests deliver results swiftly, ensuring that businesses in Roseville, NJ receive the data they need quickly, without compromising on detail.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Roseville, NJ

Uphold Workplace Integrity
Employers committed to drug-free environments find reassurance in hair follicle testing's compliance with regulations. Such tests support legal standing and contribute to a safer workplace.

Reduced Legal Liabilities
By prioritizing drug-free policies with hair tests, businesses minimize potential legal consequences, ensuring a secure and compliant working environment.

Drug Testing Near Roseville, NJ

Succasunna, NJ

Kenvil, NJ

Budd Lake, NJ

Sparta, NJ

Ledgewood, NJ

Lake Mohawk, NJ

Hurdtown, NJ

Woodport, NJ

Netcong, NJ

Landing, NJ

Mount Arlington, NJ

Andover, NJ

Stanhope, NJ

Cranberry Lake, NJ

Hopatcong, NJ

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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