Hair Follicle Drug Testing - North Wantagh, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective means for detecting alcohol and drug consumption. It captures a long-term record of substances by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of continuously growing hair strands. When taken near the scalp, such hair offers up to a roughly 3-month period for detecting alcohol and drugs. Collection of hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness), nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferred. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair can't be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair is an option. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types of hair (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial stage of integrating a sample into a lab's system. This step includes checking that the sample was intact and sent correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid check for illicit drugs. Although Screening is a cost-effective solution for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result must be verified for legal admissibility. All samples judged tentatively positive in Screening require an additional confirmation.

If a sample is tentatively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the primary sample for Extraction. Drugs are separated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (like urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation for any screened positive result is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples rated tentatively positive undergo cleaning before confirmation, if necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and accredited ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing identifies drug consumption for up to three months, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Cheating is difficult: It is quite challenging to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring results are more accurate.
• Shows historical usage: It can outline a pattern of drug use over time, not confined to recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot reveal recent consumption: It requires around 5-7 days for substances to become visible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally involves higher costs than alternate drug testing methods.
• Outcome variations: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in North Wantagh, NY, surpasses urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair testing offers a more substantial window for identifying drug usage. Hair tests prove to be extremely robust in comparison, minimizing the risk of sample tampering.

The benefits of choosing hair over urine tests lie in its extended detection window and reliability. This method offers less room for manipulation, proving more effective for employers demanding stringent compliance.

Extended Detection Window

In North Wantagh, NY, hair follicle testing is known for its extended detection window that captures drug usage history for up to 90 days. This feature provides employers a detailed account of a person’s substance habits.

Employing hair testing, companies can access a comprehensive substance history of their prospective employees, ensuring crucial information is correct for better decision-making. Its long-term capability makes it the preferred testing method.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method, significantly lowering the potential for sample adulteration in North Wantagh, NY. It guarantees that results are both reliable and unchallengeable.

This testing technique curtails the chance of sample manipulation, positioning itself as a secure alternative to traditional methods. It ensures accuracy and validity, making it difficult to falsify results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Testing convenience is offered in North Wantagh, NY, through expanded nationwide centers. With this accessibility, obtaining hair follicle drug tests is quick and hassle-free.

Local testing sites enhance the experience by offering fast and seamless access to professional testing services. This network allows easy appointment scheduling and prompt results.

Simple, Confidential Process

In North Wantagh, NY, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and obtaining results, everything is handled discreetly.

Clients are assured privacy and ease with a process that prioritizes their concerns, offering an experience that's both straightforward and unobtrusive.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround in North Wantagh, NY, makes our hair follicle testing appealing to businesses of all sizes. It ensures that budget constraints are met without sacrificing quality.

Our efficient pricing strategy provides significant value, allowing companies immediate access to important testing data. This timely service supports financial prudence alongside expedient delivery.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results in North Wantagh, NY, making them a preferable choice. The technique identifies substance use efficiently, showcasing high precision. Hair testing is highly valued for its accountability and exactness, ensuring trust in results.

The swiftness of hair follicle testing ensures individuals receive their results quickly, allowing for immediate decision-making. Its precise nature makes it a favored option for detecting a wide range of substances.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In North Wantagh, NY, using hair follicle testing offers employers compliance with drug-free workplace policies, enhancing legal safety and workplace security. Its precision aids in safeguarding the business environment.

The test provides peace of mind for employers, knowing that their workforce remains compliant with substance regulations. This implementation ensures harmony and risk reduction within workplace policies.

Drug Testing Near North Wantagh, NY

North Merrick, NY

Merrick, NY

Massapequa Park, NY

Bellmore, NY

East Meadow, NY

Seaford, NY

North Bellmore, NY

North Massapequa, NY

Massapequa, NY

Plainedge, NY

Levittown, NY

Wantagh, NY

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews