Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bay Wood, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a valuable method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The fibers of the hair strand, by capturing biomarkers, offer a prolonged history of substance use. If collected near the roots, hair may reveal drug or alcohol use for up to about 90 days. Its collection is straightforward, it is relatively resistant to tampering, and it is easy to transport.

For effective screening, a sample of 1.5 inches, about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp, is needed to provide 100mg of hair. This is the optimal sample for initial and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional tests, or those beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing. If scalp hair is not an option, a similar amount of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, and "body hair" denotes other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test comprises four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with integrating a sample into the lab’s system. This step ensures the sample’s seal and shipment were intact, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial detection of drugs or misuse. While cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, any positive results require verification to be valid in legal proceedings. Any sample suggesting a positive result in Screening must undergo further confirmation.

Should a sample indicate a positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample for the Extraction phase. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from the hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most demanding techniques.

Confirmation of any positive Screening findings is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples indicating a presumptive positive are cleansed as needed. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can indicate drug use for as much as 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Difficult to falsify: Tampering with hair drug tests is highly challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical use pattern: It can outline a timeline of drug consumption, rather than only recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days before they become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth variations may influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle located under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bay Wood, NY
When comparing hair follicle tests with traditional urine tests, the differences in detection accuracy and reliability are clear. Hair tests provide an extended detection window, up to 90 days, making them a superior choice for those seeking comprehensive substance use history. This enhanced accuracy fosters trust and security for regulatory bodies and organizations.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bay Wood, NY
One of the key benefits of hair follicle testing is its long detection period of up to 90 days, offering employers a detailed overview of an individual's drug consumption history. By providing a broader insight into past behavior, these tests assist businesses in making informed hiring decisions and maintaining safe workplace environments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bay Wood, NY
Hair follicle testing is notably resistant to tampering, an issue that can plague other testing methods. The collection process is supervised, ensuring the integrity of the sample, and eliminating possibilities of adulteration. This reliability supports a trustworthy assessment of an individual's substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bay Wood, NY
Accredited Drug Testing offers widespread accessibility with numerous centers throughout the nation, including Bay Wood, NY. This network ensures that individuals can easily access testing services, making it convenient and hassle-free to meet drug testing needs quickly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bay Wood, NY
Our drug testing process is designed to be straightforward and private. From ordering a test to taking it and receiving results, each step maintains confidentiality, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring a smooth experience for all clients, whether individuals or companies.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bay Wood, NY
Offering competitive pricing structures coupled with fast turnaround times, our hair follicle drug testing services provide outstanding value. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from our cost-effective solutions, which deliver peace of mind without straining budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bay Wood, NY
Hair follicle drug testing is known for its precision in detecting substance use. The process is swift, ensuring that test results are available quickly, which helps individuals and employers make timely decisions. Moreover, the unparalleled accuracy of hair tests helps identify drug use traces even long after other testing methods would fall short.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bay Wood, NY
Employers who implement hair follicle drug testing benefit from assured regulatory compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method aids in reducing potential legal risks, enhancing safety, and ensuring a sound, productive work environment that prioritizes the well-being of all employees.

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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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