Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Unionville, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by trapping biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When taken near the scalp, hair offers a detection window of up to nearly three months for alcohol and other drugs. It is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample, comprising roughly 200 hairs (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for evaluation and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, or tests beyond ten panels, a specimen weighting 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement of the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is not an option, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. When we mention head hair, we exclusively refer to scalp hair. Body hair signifies all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the sample's initial integration into the laboratory system. This involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data required by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drug usage. While Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive finding needs confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples with a preliminary positive during Screening need a secondary verification.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, further hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology to conduct.

The Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a preliminary positive are washed prior to Confirmation as necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and in line with the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug assessments can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter span.
• Cheating is challenging: It is notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Historical usage data: It can illustrate a drug use pattern over time, not just recent usage.

Constraints:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: It usually takes around 5-7 days for drugs to show up in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments generally cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Though often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not on the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests in Unionville, NJ by offering superior detection for substances. These tests stand out due to their heightened accuracy and reliability in reflecting drug use behaviors.

Advantages Over Urine:

• Longer detection window up to 90 days.
• More substantial data integrity.
• Preferred choice for rigorous compliance needs.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing is a major advantage in Unionville, NJ. It offers up to 90 days of substance use history, making it ideal for thorough background checks.

Comprehensive Insight: Employers receive a detailed view of a candidate's or employee's substance habits, aiding informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Unionville, NJ, hair follicle testing is regarded as a tamper-resistant method for drug detection. The nature of these tests significantly diminishes the risk of sample adulteration.

Reliable Results: By using hair samples, which are challenging to alter, the accuracy and credibility of test outcomes are ensured, making them nearly cheat-proof.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide network of testing facilities, including those in Unionville, NJ, simplifies access to hair testing. It ensures a swift and straightforward process for everyone involved.

Convenience and Frequency: With sites spread widely, schedule and location flexibility meets diverse client needs, making testing expedient and convenient.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Unionville, NJ is straightforward and confidential, accommodating privacy and ease of operation.

Confidential Handling: All stages, from test ordering to reporting, are handled discreetly, reassuring participants regarding their privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Unionville, NJ clients benefit from competitive pricing and swift turnarounds with our hair follicle tests. It's an appealing option for businesses of every size.

Excellent Value: Our offerings combine cost-effectiveness with rapid results, ensuring company needs are met with efficiency and reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Unionville, NJ, our hair follicle drug tests offer rapid, precise, and dependable results. Their advanced detection capabilities ensure accurate identification of substance use.

Quick Turnaround: Thanks to efficient processing times, results are delivered promptly, allowing for immediate decision-making.

High Accuracy: These tests provide an unmatched level of certainty, minimizing false positives and negatives for peace of mind.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Unionville, NJ supports employers in maintaining drug-free work environments. It ensures compliance with company policies, providing legal protection and safety enhancement.

Benefits for Companies:

• Reduces liability concerns.
• Encourages a secure workplace.
• Reinforces zero-tolerance approaches effectively.

Drug Testing Near Unionville, NJ

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Hopewell, 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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