Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Morristown, NY

What it is, How it works

An effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use is hair testing. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair can demonstrate drug and alcohol use within an approximately 3-month timeframe. Hair is easy to obtain, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

Gathering a 1.5-inch length of around 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp results in 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is suggested to have 150mg of the specimen. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair is acceptable. When we talk about head hair, it specifically means scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test result in a laboratory involves four essential steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the first processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient means to exclude drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be substantiated to be acceptable in legal settings. Any test samples that show a presumptive positive in this phase require a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample displays a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the original specimen for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair in significantly lower concentrations than seen in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug analysis the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is performed under the oversight of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests that have limited detection periods.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is challenging, leading to more precise results.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal patterns of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent intake: It typically takes 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are usually pricier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the level of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite frequently being called "hair follicle tests", the examination actually involves analyzing the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing reigns superior over urine tests in Morristown, NY lies in its unmatched detection accuracy. Hair testing provides more reliability and exceptional benefits.

• Extended detection of substance use up to 90 days offers employers more insights.
• Reduced risk of tampering enhances credibility.
• A more comprehensive detection method than urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window provided by hair follicle tests in Morristown, NY, is unparalleled. Employers receive a clearer picture of an individual’s substance history.

• Hair tests screen drug use patterns up to 90 days.
• Gain a long-term overview of substance history.
• Provide invaluable insights into employee habits from application onwards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Morristown, NY significantly minimize sample tampering risks, ensuring results are trustworthy and unquestionable.

• A reliable testing method resistant to manipulation.
• Results that employers and legal systems can trust.
• Confidence in uncompromised test authenticity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Morristown, NY, boasts the convenience of nationwide testing service locations.

• Easy access to testing centers for all customers.
• Quick and hassle-free testing process nationwide.
• Immediate access ensures timely compliance.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Morristown, NY, the process for hair follicle testing is streamlined and private.

• Easy ordering, testing, and results receipt.
• Assurance of complete confidentiality.
• Conveys ease, comfort, and privacy to all users.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and swift results make hair follicle testing in Morristown, NY an excellent value.

• Competitive pricing favorable for businesses.
• Quick turnaround guarantees peace of mind.
• Economical options for companies of any size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Morristown, NY, the precision and promptness of hair follicle drug tests stand out. They offer high accuracy in identifying substance use, making it an ideal choice.

• Quick and reliable results ensure prompt decision-making.
• Hair tests provide thorough drug use detection, surpassing traditional methods.
• Confidently rely on the comprehensive accuracy these tests offer.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies in Morristown, NY is achievable with hair follicle testing.

• Employers can mitigate legal risks.
• Enhance workplace safety and integrity.
• Promote a drug-free, confident work environment.

Drug Testing Near Morristown, NY

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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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