Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lido Beach, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair screening has emerged as an effective technique for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal up to about a 3-month period for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, somewhat hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section with approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the lab handling of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the first step of entering a sample into the lab system. This step checks that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is cost-effective for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation to be valid in court. Presumptive positives in Screening necessitate a second confirmation.

If a sample turns up presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and made ready for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are withdrawn from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing is considered the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned prior to confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug analyses can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter timeframe.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly difficult, rendering the outcomes more precise.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, not solely recent use.

Disadvantages:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: Drugs need about 5-7 days to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be more costly than other drug testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the scalp’s hair follicle

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Lido Beach, NY, outperforms traditional urine testing by offering superior accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which have a short detection window, hair testing detects substance use over a long duration. This not only enhances detection accuracy but also provides a robust look into an individual’s history, ensuring that no recent drug activity is missed.

Extended Detection Window

With a detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Lido Beach, NY, provides a comprehensive overview of drug use. This extended timeframe means employers can review a more substantial history of potential employees’ substance use. Offering a much broader scope than urine tests, hair testing helps in making well-informed employment decisions with reliable historical substance data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Lido Beach, NY, are renowned for their tamper-resistant nature. Unlike urine tests, which can be compromised, hair tests minimize the risk of sample adulteration. This ensures consistency and credibility in results, building trust that the outcomes truly reflect an individual’s drug use history, and offering employers assurance in maintaining compliant hiring practices.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations nationwide, including Lido Beach, NY. With centers across various cities, accessing swift and simple testing is effortless. Whether local or otherwise, our network ensures that effective testing is readily available. This widespread accessibility helps individuals and employers alike in obtaining drug testing services without location constraints.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lido Beach, NY, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From test ordering, sample collection, to receiving results, the streamlined procedure respects user privacy while ensuring ease. Clients can confidently navigate the process, assured that their personal information is protected and that they will receive their results efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Lido Beach, NY, delivers excellent value. Offering competitive rates, Accredited Drug Testing caters to companies of all sizes. Quick turnaround ensures that businesses receive the information they need promptly, facilitating speedy decision-making and reinforcing trust in the testing solutions provided.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Lido Beach, NY, hair follicle drug testing boasts a reputation for accuracy and speed. Unlike urine tests, hair tests accurately identify a range of substances over an extended timeframe. This high precision allows quick determination of drug use, supporting decisions with timely and reliable results. The meticulous detection method ensures that employers receive data they can rely on for critical decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in Lido Beach, NY, aids employers in maintaining compliance with workplace anti-drug policies. Such testing minimizes legal risks and promotes a safe environment. Hair tests, with their comprehensive detection and reliable results, offer peace of mind by ensuring employees adhere to policy standards and fostering a drug-free workplace atmosphere.

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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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