Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Wildwood, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as an effective means to identify drug and alcohol use. Hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal up to roughly a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, somewhat tough to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. It's advised to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair can't be obtained, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result includes four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary handling of a sample into the lab's system. It entails checking that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a rapid preliminary evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-effective method to discount drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptively positive samples in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are removed from hair at a considerably lower level than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening result utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if needed. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a shorter detection window.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, lending more accuracy to the results.
• Historical data provision: It offers a pattern of drug use over a timeline, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become identifiable in hair in about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are usually more costly than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," the evaluation examines the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in West Wildwood, NJ

Hair follicle tests provide a significant advantage over urine tests, primarily due to a wider detection window. This feature allows for the identification of prolonged substance use, offering better insight into an individual's history. The superior detection accuracy and reliability make hair testing a preferred choice for many in West Wildwood, NJ.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in West Wildwood, NJ

Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing can uncover drug use extending up to 90 days back. This extended detection window grants employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance habits, proving invaluable during the screening process in West Wildwood, NJ.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in West Wildwood, NJ

Hair follicle tests are highly resistant to tampering, unlike traditional methods. In West Wildwood, NJ, this feature ensures that the test results remain trustworthy and authentic, eliminating worries about sample manipulation and presenting reliable outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in West Wildwood, NJ

With a network of nationwide testing centers, employees and employers alike enjoy easy access to hair follicle testing services. Locally, in West Wildwood, NJ, our testing facilities streamline the process, offering simplicity and efficiency for all testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in West Wildwood, NJ

Our hair follicle testing ensures a straightforward and discreet experience from ordering to result delivery. In West Wildwood, NJ, this process alleviates privacy concerns and guarantees ease of use, providing both clients and employers with peace of mind.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in West Wildwood, NJ

Our competitive pricing and swift result times highlight the value in our hair follicle testing services in West Wildwood, NJ. Businesses of all sizes benefit from these cost-effective solutions and can rely on us for prompt and precise results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in West Wildwood, NJ

Hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched speed and precision in detection, ensuring accurate identification of substance use. In West Wildwood, NJ, these tests give employers trust in their results due to their reliability and quick turnaround times, making them an ideal choice in a fast-paced work environment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in West Wildwood, NJ

Using hair follicle testing helps employers maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies. In West Wildwood, NJ, such testing minimizes legal exposure and bolsters workplace safety, granting peace of mind to both employers and employees.

Drug Testing Near West Wildwood, NJ

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Wildwood, 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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