Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Upper Saddle River, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a timeline of alcohol and drug remnants by embedding biomarkers within the hair's fibers as it grows. Hair close to the scalp can reveal a detection timeline of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

Acquiring a 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in thickness) nearest to the scalp offers 100mg of hair, an optimal amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and examinations beyond the 10-panel scope, a 150mg sample is advised. It's beneficial to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a similar quantity of body hair can be utilized. By head hair, we mean specifically scalp hair. Body hair encapsulates all other hair (such as facial and axillary hair, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory workflow for processing a drug test outcome divides into four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the primary assessment of a sample within a lab’s system. This phase involves ensuring the sample's integrity during sealing and transport, issuing a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any absent data not covered by an electronic chain of custody framework.

The Screening phase conducts an initial assessment for substance misuse. Despite Screening offering a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug consumption in most samples, a positive outcome requires Confirmation to be judicially acceptable. Samples that exhibit presumption of positivity in Screening necessitate a validation confirmation.

For samples showing presumptive positivity during Screening, further hair is extracted from the original batch and prepped for Extraction. Here, drug elements are isolated from the hair at considerably lower concentrations than alternative techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug assessment the most intricate process to execute.

The Confirmation phase for any positive outcome from Screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All samples indicating presumptive positivity are cleansed before Confirmation as needed. The thorough lab procedure from Accessioning through to Confirmation is scrutinized in line with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair benchmarks and the accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 guidelines.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests have the capability to identify drug use for up to 90 days, compared to the shorter span of urine tests.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is particularly challenging, enhancing the reliability of results.
• Provides historical data: It presents a timeline of drug consumption over a sustained period, rather than detecting recent usage exclusively.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: A duration of roughly 5-7 days is needed before drugs are traceable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to other drug analysis methods.
• Variations in results: Variables such as hair pigmentation and personal hair growth differences can influence the level of drug metabolites present in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

For those in Upper Saddle River, NJ, hair follicle testing offers advantages over urine testing by delivering superior detection accuracy and reliability. With the capability to provide a more extensive overview than urine tests, hair testing allows for a detailed assessment of substance use. Its higher accuracy in spotting drugs makes it a preferred choice, standing out in comparison to more conventional testing forms.

Extended Detection Window

Located in Upper Saddle River, NJ, the hair follicle test’s extended detection window of up to 90 days provides employers a comprehensive insight into an individual’s drug use history. This prolonged timeline allows a clearer view of the substance habits of applicants and employees, ensuring a more informed decision-making process. The detailed perspective aids in crafting appropriate drug-free workplace strategies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Residing in Upper Saddle River, NJ, the hair follicle drug testing method greatly minimizes the chance of sample tampering, offering credible and consistent results. This testing is designed to prevent any form of sample alteration, thus ensuring the integrity of the results. Businesses and organizations can rely on its tamper-proof property to uphold strict standards and trustworthiness in drug evaluation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Upper Saddle River, NJ, our accessible and widespread testing sites make drug testing a convenient task. With centers located across the nation, we ensure a swift and straightforward route to obtain necessary testing services. This extensive network provides easy access to efficient and timely service, making the testing process smooth and hassle-free for all our clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Upper Saddle River, NJ, we simplify the drug testing process through a confidential and straightforward procedure, addressing privacy and convenience concerns. From ordering the test to receiving your results, each step is designed to ensure your privacy is protected and that the process remains user-friendly, providing a seamless experience for individuals and businesses alike.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With attractive pricing and rapid response times, our services in Upper Saddle River, NJ offer significant value. Our competitive prices combined with swift turnaround make drug testing accessible and efficient for businesses of all sizes. This approach ensures high-quality results without straining budget constraints, providing peace of mind and outstanding service to our clients.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Upper Saddle River, NJ, hair follicle drug tests stand out for delivering accurate, fast results. Known for their precision, these tests provide a reliable snapshot of substance use. Their advanced detection capabilities surpass traditional methods, presenting a trustworthy solution for employers and individuals alike. The efficiency of hair testing ensures that results are both quick and highly dependable.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Upper Saddle River, NJ, hair follicle testing plays a crucial role in maintaining compliance with employers’ drug-free workplace policies. By reducing legal risks associated with drug use and bolstering workplace safety, hair testing provides both peace of mind and a secure working environment. Adherence to these policies helps enterprises avoid potential liabilities and ensure a safer, more productive environment.

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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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