Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Nassau, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method to detect the use of drugs and alcohol. By embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows, hair offers a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug consumption. When hair is sourced near the scalp, it can reveal alcohol and drug use within a timeframe of up to around three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

Obtaining a 1.5-inch segment from nearly 200 strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is perfect for both screening and confirmation processes. It is advisable to use 150mg for tests such as EtG, add-ons, and those that exceed 10 panels. Using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample is advised. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar volume of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it particularly refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types such as facial and underarm hair.

Process Summary

The key stages in processing a drug test result in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is integrated into a laboratory system. This stage ensures that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) is allocated, and any additional data not submitted via an electronic chain of custody system is recorded.

Screening is the preliminary phase for identifying drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug use for most samples, any positive screen must be validated to be acceptable in court. A secondary confirmation is required for samples that are presumptively positive in Screening.

For samples testing presumptively positive in the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the original sample and undergoes preparation for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn out from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening one of the toughest techniques to execute.

Any confirmed positive from screening is validated through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. Each phase from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug analysis:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug usage spanning up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Hard to falsify: It is immensely challenging to deceive a hair drug test, leading to more precise outcomes.
• Provides use patterns: It can outline a timeline of drug use over a duration, rather than just recent ingestion.

Drawbacks:

• Unable to detect recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than alternate drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Compared to traditional urine testing, hair follicle testing offers enhanced advantages in Nassau, NY. While urine tests are standard, hair tests provide a broader detection window, capturing substance use over extended periods.

• Longer detection window capturing up to 90 days.
• Challenges associated with test evasion are minimized.

Extended Detection Window

In Nassau, NY, the extended detection window of hair follicle testing spans up to 90 days, surpassing the typical detection range of urine tests. This extensive range allows employers a more thorough overview of an individual's drug use history, essential for accurate background checks and ensuring workplace integrity. Hair testing provides a valuable resource, reinforcing confidence in the testing process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Nassau, NY stands as a tamper-resistant method, significantly curtailing opportunities for sample adulteration. Its intrinsic resistance to tampering guarantees unassailable results, providing employers with assurance in their testing programs. Because the hair strands reflect physiology over time, any attempts at manipulation often go undetected, solidifying this method's efficacy.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts convenient, nationwide testing centers, including locations in Nassau, NY. Access to testing services is made swift and efficient, minimizing any delays associated with complicated logistical arrangements. Whether for local residents or companies operating in Nassau, the easy accessibility of our centers adds convenience and peace of mind to our clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Nassau, NY, our simple and confidential processes for hair follicle testing ensure client assurance. Streamlined ordering procedures coupled with an emphasis on privacy make testing straightforward. From submitting samples to receiving results, each stage is designed to protect confidentiality while ensuring efficiency and reliability.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and quick turnaround, Accredited Drug Testing in Nassau, NY ensures excellent value for employers of all sizes. Competitive pricing allows organizations to implement comprehensive testing measures without financial strain.
Furthermore, the fast result processing adds to our appeal, providing benefits such as rapid decision-making and resource planning.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Nassau, NY provide fast, accurate results, ensuring high levels of precision in substance detection. Efficiency in processing and skillful analysis contribute to the swift turnaround of results, fostering trust in their reliability.Accuracy is paramount, ensuring that even minute traces of substances are detected, safeguarding against substance misuse and its implications.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Nassau, NY can achieve compliance and peace of mind by using hair follicle testing. This method assists organizations in maintaining their drug-free policies, minimizing legal exposure, and enhancing workplace safety. Consistent testing aligns with regulatory compliance, mitigating risks and promoting a secure workplace environment.

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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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