Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Taylortown, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers a comprehensive history of substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month detection period for drugs and alcohol. It is straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilize a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable amount of body hair can be gathered. Head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial incorporation of a sample into the laboratory system. It involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening checks for drugs quickly and cost-effectively to exclude drug use on most samples; however, positive screens need confirmation to be legally sound. Samples showing a positive result in Screening require secondary confirmation.

For presumptively positive samples in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening the most challenging method to carry out.

Confirmation for any positive screening result involves GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Reduced possibility of tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals historical usage: Can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lack of recent use detection: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are more costly than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair can be influenced by hair color and individual growth variations.

Note: Although frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the evaluation targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Taylortown, NJ, hair follicle testing is superior to traditional urine tests due to its enhanced detection capability. Offering a broader and longer detection period, hair testing provides a more comprehensive view, unlike the limited window of a urine test.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Taylortown, NJ is a significant advantage. This method can track drug use history over up to 90 days, granting employers a detailed overview regarding an individual's substance history, crucial for informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests are distinguished in Taylortown, NJ for their tamper-resistant nature. This testing method significantly diminishes the chances of sample adulteration, securing trustworthy and verifiable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Taylortown, NJ, the accessibility of testing is made easy with our convenient nationwide locations. Offering fast, hassle-free testing services, you can find a center nearby, ensuring quick and efficient drug testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a simple and confidential process for drug testing in Taylortown, NJ. From ordering to receiving results, our approach ensures ease of use and addresses privacy concerns, making the entire process stress-free.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our testing services in Taylortown, NJ are supported by affordable pricing and rapid turnaround. We provide competitive rates, guaranteeing value for businesses of all sizes, ensuring quick and dependable results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Taylortown, NJ ensures fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests are exceptional in precision, identifying substance use with high accuracy. Timely results give both test administrators and participants confidence in the findings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Taylortown, NJ can achieve peace of mind using hair follicle testing. This method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizes legal exposure, and enhances workplace safety by effectively identifying long-term substance use.

Drug Testing Near Taylortown, NJ

Riverdale, NJ

Lake Telemark, NJ

Marcella, NJ

Butler, NJ

Hibernia, NJ

Pequannock, NJ

Denville, NJ

Lincoln Park, NJ

Kinnelon, NJ

Beach Glen, NJ

Mountain Lakes, NJ

Lake Hiawatha, NJ

Towaco, NJ

Boonton, NJ

Montville, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews