Hair Follicle Drug Testing - East Garden City, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and drug use by trapping biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When harvested near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window for alcohol and drugs extending up to roughly 3 months. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively tamper-resistant, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil), nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount needed for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or over 10-panel tests, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It is advised to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair specifically denote scalp hair, while body hair refers to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in laboratory evaluation of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This process verifies that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfills any extra data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial brief analysis for illicit drugs. Though Screening offers a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated for court admissibility. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration compared to other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive results from screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed prior to confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, while urine tests offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to deceive: It is notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insights: It can highlight a pattern of drug use over a duration, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to become identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in East Garden City, NY
Hair follicle testing provides a more extensive and reliable detection method compared to urine tests. Its ability to identify substance use over a longer period ensures that past drug use cannot be easily concealed. Traditional urine tests may miss out on detecting substance use beyond a few days, thus lacking the comprehensive insight that hair testing offers.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in East Garden City, NY
Hair follicle testing stands out with its extended detection window, capable of identifying drug use for up to 90 days. This protracted timeline gives employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history, which is essential for informed decision-making during hiring or monitoring processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in East Garden City, NY
The robustness of hair follicle testing lies in its resistance to tampering. Unlike urine tests, which can be more easily manipulated, hair tests ensure sample integrity and provide credible and uncontaminated results, thereby strengthening the reliability of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in East Garden City, NY
Our expansive network of testing centers across the nation, including East Garden City, ensures accessibility and convenience. Whether locally or elsewhere, clients benefit from hassle-free, prompt access to our testing services, simplifying the process for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in East Garden City, NY
With a clear and confidential process, ordering and receiving hair follicle test results is straightforward. The privacy of our clients is a top priority, ensuring that the entire procedure is not only user-friendly but also respects individual confidentiality, fostering trust and convenience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in East Garden City, NY
Offering competitive pricing models alongside rapid turnaround times, our hair follicle testing provides exceptional value. This combination appeals to companies of varying sizes, ensuring they receive efficient, cost-effective service without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in East Garden City, NY
Hair follicle drug tests excel in delivering precise and speedy results. The methodology is designed to ensure a high level of accuracy, making it an indispensable tool for identifying substance use. This testing method not only provides results quickly but also assures employers of its dependability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in East Garden City, NY
Implementing hair follicle testing supports employers in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This approach reduces legal uncertainties while promoting a safer work environment, offering peace of mind that company standards are upheld.

Drug Testing Near East Garden City, NY

Garden City South, NY

Garden City Park, NY

West Hempstead, NY

Williston Park, NY

East Williston, NY

Mineola, NY

New Cassel, NY

Haviland, NY

East Meadow, NY

Uniondale, NY

Hempstead, NY

Garden City, NY

Nassau, NY

Carle Place, NY

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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