Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hewlett, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective instrument for discovering drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended history of alcohol and drugs by trapping biomarkers within the strands of hair. Collected near the scalp, this method can offer roughly a 3-month observation period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, harder to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch collection of approximately 200 hair strands (akin to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, ideal for screening and confirming. For EtG, additions, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in lab analysis of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning incorporates the initial intake of a sample into a lab’s infrastructure. This ensures proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data from an electronic custody system.

Screening represents a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. While it economically excludes drug usage in most cases, a positive screen needs validation for courtroom admission. Any samples flagged as positive in Screening need further confirmation.

If indicated positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted at concentrations much lower than in other methods (ex. urine or saliva), which underscores why hair drug testing is notably complex.

Confirmation of a positive screen result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair analysis can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a brief detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: It's quite challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals usage patterns: It can highlight a drug use pattern over time, not solely recent intake.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically costs more than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Variables like hair color and individual growth rates may impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Hewlett, NY offers significant advantages over urine tests. Its superior detection accuracy provides reliable results, making it a favored choice. Hair tests reveal a broader range of substances, capturing a more comprehensive history of drug use.

While urine tests are limited to detecting recent use, hair tests extend the detection window significantly, offering a complete profile of an individual's substance habits, and giving employers enhanced reliability in their hiring process.

Extended Detection Window

In Hewlett, NY, the hair follicle testing method provides an extended detection window, capturing drug use up to 90 days prior. This prolonged timeframe gives employers a detailed view of an individual's substance history, enabling more informed decisions.

The comprehensive nature of hair testing surpasses other testing methods, revealing long-term patterns of behavior and drug use. This makes it an invaluable tool for employers seeking thorough vetting processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Hewlett, NY offers a tamper-resistant method that significantly reduces the risk of sample alteration. The inherent difficulty in manipulating hair samples ensures trustworthy results, providing peace of mind to employers and legal authorities.

The robust nature of hair testing prevents common tampering tactics seen in urine tests, solidifying its position as a reliable choice for accurate drug testing. Its design virtually rules out the possibility of deceitful practices.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing's locations in Hewlett, NY, and nationwide offer convenience. The widespread availability of testing centers ensures that individuals receive quick and accessible services, minimizing disruption to their schedule.

Employers and individuals benefit from the hassle-free access to hair follicle testing, capitalizing on a network designed to deliver efficient service and consistent results wherever they are situated.

Simple, Confidential Process

For residents of Hewlett, NY, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that ordering, testing, and receiving results is conducted with the utmost privacy, addressing any concerns regarding data protection.

The user-friendly process supports total confidentiality, providing peace of mind and ease in obtaining necessary drug testing services without the worry of personal information breach.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Hewlett, NY, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing coupled with quick turnaround times. Businesses of all sizes benefit from affordable rates, achieving necessary drug testing without straining budgets.

Clients receive excellent value and rapid results, reinforcing the practicality of hair follicle testing in maintaining workplace safety while being financially savvy. The combination ensures companies stay informed without excessive costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Hewlett, NY, the precision and speed of hair follicle tests stand out. These tests offer quick and highly accurate results, providing clear insights into substance use. The meticulous analysis ensures reliable outcomes, reducing the chances of error or false results.

Employers value the dependability of hair tests, ensuring fast turnaround times without sacrificing accuracy. Their capability to detect various substances makes them a preferred choice over traditional testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Hewlett, NY achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method supports drug-free workplace initiatives, aligning with corporate policies and legal requirements, therefore reducing potential legal risks.

The detailed insights provided by hair testing reinforce workplace safety, ensuring a clear understanding of an employees' substance use history. This compliance enhances overall company productivity and stability.

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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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