Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Fernwood, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers a prolonged history by encapsulating biomarkers within the fiber of the growing strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can indicate drug and alcohol use for a period of up to about 3 months. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 hairs (around the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimum amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or those testing beyond 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is suggested. We advise measuring the quantity on a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair not be available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to any other hair (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Outline

The procedure involves four critical phases in the laboratory processing of drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first phase, whereby a laboratory incorporates a sample into its records. This step confirms the sample's integrity during transportation, generates a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data registration not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

The Screening step involves an initial rapid assessment for potential drug use. While Screening is cost-efficient for eliminating drug usage in most cases, a positive result necessitates confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples that return a presumptive positive during Screening require further confirmation.

For samples testing presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a diminished concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging techniques.

Confirmation of positive screenings is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positives are cleaned prior to confirmation if necessary. The complete process from Accessioning to Confirmation is vetted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection time frame: Hair drug testing can track drug usage for up to 90 days, while urine tests present a shorter detection duration.
• Difficult to manipulate: Hair drug testing is hard to falsify, thus enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Tracks usage patterns: It can indicate a timeline of drug consumption, not merely recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Can't trace recent usage: Drugs are typically detectable in hair only after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual growth patterns can affect metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", these tests examine the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Fernwood, NY

Hair follicle tests provide superior advantages over traditional urine testing by offering enhanced detection reliability and a longer assessment period. Employers in Fernwood benefit from this method's accuracy, ensuring a drug-free workplace.

Unlike urine tests that detect minor drug traces, hair tests capture a comprehensive history, making it a valuable tool for stringent zero-tolerance policies.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Fernwood, NY

Hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage with its extended detection period of up to 90 days. This allows employers to get a comprehensive overview of an applicant's or employee's drug use history in Fernwood, NY, providing crucial insights into long-term substance use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Fernwood, NY

Hair follicle testing in Fernwood drastically minimizes the possibility of sample tampering, unlike other methods. With its stringent collection process, it ensures reliable, unaltered results, giving employers the confidence in making informed decisions regarding their workforce.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Fernwood, NY

Our testing centers, conveniently located both nationwide and locally in Fernwood, NY, allow for quick and hassle-free access to drug testing services. This network ensures that individuals and companies can easily reach testing facilities.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Fernwood, NY

Our hair follicle testing process in Fernwood is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to receiving results, each step ensures privacy and ease of use, addressing any privacy concerns in the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Fernwood, NY

We offer competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for our hair follicle testing in Fernwood. This ensures excellent value for companies of all sizes, providing peace of mind without straining budgets while delivering swift and reliable results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Fernwood, NY, hair follicle tests stand out with their precision and swift results. Known for their high accuracy, these tests effectively identify substance use, offering reliable detection for employers and individuals.

The efficiency of hair follicle testing ensures that results are delivered promptly, making it a preferred choice for those seeking quick yet dependable drug screening solutions in Fernwood.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Fernwood, NY

By adopting hair follicle testing, Fernwood employers can ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method mitigates legal risks and enhances workplace safety, providing both assurance and a sense of security for businesses.

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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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