Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kysorville, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it develops. When clipped near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section encompassing close to 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for evaluation and verification. For EtG assessments, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair is acceptable. By head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair denotes all different hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome comprises four significant phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s framework. This step involves ensuring that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data input missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly method to dismiss drug involvement in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be permissible in judicial processes. All samples that render presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

In cases where a sample is indicated as positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are removed from hair at substantially lower concentrations than in alternative techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug screening ranks as the most challenging methodology to execute.

Any positive screening outcome is validated through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the recognition to ISO / IEC 17025 norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can track drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which cover a shorter time frame.
• Hard to deceive: Tricking a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Gives historical insight: It offers a timeline of drug use over several months, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent usage: Drugs become traceable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Costly: Hair drug tests tend to be more expensive compared to other drug testing options.
• Result variability: Variables like hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While commonly described as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand itself, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Kysorville, NY
Hair testing provides distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. With a considerably more extended detection period and superior reliability, hair tests offer a comprehensive view of substance use history. They reduce the chance of error or manipulation, ensuring employers have accurate data to inform their decisions.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Kysorville, NY
One of the major benefits of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window, offering insights into drug use over the past 90 days. This long-term overview gives employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history, aiding in making informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Kysorville, NY
Hair follicle tests provide a robust defense against sample tampering. Thanks to their design, these tests are nearly impossible to adulterate, delivering trustworthy results that employers can rely on. This ensures the integrity of the testing process, maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and reliability.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide and Local Locations in Kysorville, NY
Our extensive network of testing centers ensures that accessing drug testing services is quick and hassle-free. With numerous locations nationwide and locally, Accredited Drug Testing guarantees easy availability, enabling prompt and efficient service for individuals and companies alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Kysorville, NY
The process for ordering, conducting, and receiving results from hair follicle tests is straightforward and confidential. Clear steps ensure ease of use while maintaining privacy, addressing any apprehensions regarding privacy and confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Kysorville, NY
With competitive pricing and rapid results, our hair follicle tests provide exceptional value. Companies of all sizes can benefit from this cost-effective solution, ensuring peace of mind and efficient testing processes to meet their specific needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Kysorville, NY
Hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision and efficiency. Known for delivering high accuracy, these tests can detect substance use with remarkable speed. This reliable testing method ensures you receive swift and exact results, making it the preferred choice for discerning employers in the area.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Kysorville, NY
Employers can achieve reassurance and compliance with workplace drug-free policies through hair follicle testing. By minimizing legal liabilities and promoting a safer work environment, this testing method contributes significantly to peace of mind for businesses and organizations.

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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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