Hair Follicle Drug Testing - North Creek, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a historical record of drugs and alcohol by embedding biomarkers within its fibers as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair permits detection of alcohol and other drugs for up to 3 months. Collection is straightforward, adulteration is relatively challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

For optimal screening and confirmation, a 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's width) nearest the scalp provides 100mg, which is the preferred sample size. For EtG, additional assessments, or tests involving more than 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for precision in weighing the sample. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be collected. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory’s database. This step ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigns a randomized LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any additional data required that wasn't provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage for most samples, to be valid in court, a positive screen must be confirmed. Samples showing preliminary positive results in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and is then prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at far lower concentration levels compared to alternative procedures like urine or oral fluid testing, thereby making hair drug screening a notably challenging method.

Verification of any positive screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review in accordance with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and fulfills the requirements of ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a lesser detection timespan.
• Harder to manipulate results: Tampering with a hair drug test is highly challenging, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Offers long-term data: It provides a usage pattern over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Not suitable for detecting recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to have higher costs compared to alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal variations in hair growth may impact the levels of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the procedure actually analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in North Creek, NY surpasses urine testing in several ways. It offers improved detection accuracy, allowing for greater reliability in results. While urine tests are commonly used, the deeper analysis provided by hair testing gives a more comprehensive overview of substance use over time, making it a preferred choice for many organizations.

Extended Detection Window

Utilizing hair follicle testing in North Creek, NY provides an extended window of drug detection—up to 90 days. This offers employers an extensive overview of an individual's substance use history, aiding in making well-informed hiring or employment decisions. Hair testing helps uncover patterns of use that other tests may miss.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In North Creek, NY, hair follicle testing offers an antitampering advantage, significantly lowering the risk of sample adulteration. By analyzing a stable sample type such as hair, organizations can rely on received results, fostering trust with both employers and employees while ensuring authenticity in testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

North Creek, NY residents benefit from our widespread testing locations. With an extensive network nationwide, undergoing a hair follicle drug test has never been more accessible. This convenience assures individuals and companies of swift and simplified access, eliminating unnecessary delays in obtaining necessary testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The procedure for hair follicle testing in North Creek, NY is both simple and confidential. We prioritize client privacy, ensuring that from ordering to receiving results, every step is secure and straightforward. Our methodology addresses concerns of confidentiality, providing peace of mind with an efficient testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

At Accredited Drug Testing in North Creek, NY, we offer competitive pricing and swift turnaround times. This ensures our services are accessible to companies of all sizes, delivering high value through affordable options and prompt delivery of results, thus empowering informed decision-making with minimal delay.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision of hair follicle drug testing in North Creek, NY is unmatched. Our methods deliver rapid yet accurate results, ensuring that any substance use is easily detectable. The high accuracy of hair testing makes it an essential tool for employers and legal entities, giving them confidence in the reliability of the results produced.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in North Creek, NY find peace of mind with hair follicle testing due to its compliance with drug-free policies. This method supports safety within the workplace while reducing potential legal risks. By incorporating hair testing into their protocols, businesses can enhance confidence in a transparent testing process.

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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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