Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Athol Springs, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has evolved into a strong method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-lasting record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When hair is gathered near the scalp, it can offer an approximately 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair sample consisting of roughly 200 strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair may be collected. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair, while body hair references encompass all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial processing stage where a sample is introduced into a laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, a confirmed positive is necessary for court admissibility. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening need a subsequent confirmation.

If a sample is preliminarily positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted at much lower concentrations than other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging method to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are washed prior to confirmation if needed. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, compared to the reduced detection window of urine tests.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is very difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides use trends: It can illustrate a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence the levels of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: While often termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination actually assesses the hair strand and not the scalp-based hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Athol Springs, NY, hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over urine testing. With its longer detection period of up to 90 days, hair testing provides a more comprehensive look into individual drug use history. The test's superior accuracy and reliability make it a favored method by employers and legal authorities over conventional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Athol Springs, NY, stands out due to its extended detection window. It enables the identification of substances for up to 90 days, offering employers comprehensive insights into an employee's or candidate's drug use history, presenting a clear picture of their past habits beyond the capabilities of shorter-detection methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One major strength of hair follicle testing in Athol Springs, NY, is its tamper-resistant nature. This method minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring that results are both reliable and unquestionable, thereby maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of having nationwide testing centers benefits those in Athol Springs, NY. Our local facilities ensure quick, straightforward, and stress-free access to testing services, making it easier for clients to utilize our reliable drug testing services without hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple and confidential process for hair follicle testing in Athol Springs, NY, ensures a smooth experience from ordering to receiving results. Our procedures address privacy concerns, ensuring an easy and discreet testing process for all clients.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our services in Athol Springs, NY, offer affordable pricing structures and fast turnaround times. These ensure excellent value while providing peace of mind for organizations of various sizes looking to meet their testing needs efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and precision of hair follicle drug tests in Athol Springs, NY, are unmatched. These tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results, demonstrating high efficiency in identifying substance use. The capability of hair tests to quickly process and deliver trustworthy outcomes makes them stand out as an excellent choice for various testing needs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Athol Springs, NY, gain compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, helping to mitigate legal risks and enhance overall workplace safety by providing trustworthy and consistent results.

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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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