Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Westhampton Beach, NY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has been recognized as an influential method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When sampled near the scalp, hair can provide detection for alcohol and other substances over approximately a 3-month period. It is straightforward to collect hair, relatively hard to adulterate, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch piece, consisting of around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It is suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent volume of body hair can be taken. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in the laboratory handling of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system. This phase includes checking the sample's sealing and shipping accuracy, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening signifies an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug presence in most samples, confirming positively screened results is necessary for legal acceptability. Any samples testing presumptively positive during Screening require subsequent verification.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is regarded as one of the most challenging methodologies to administer.

Confirmation of positive screening results occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing as necessary before confirmation. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is appraised under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards of accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is exceedingly challenging to falsify a hair drug test, thereby enhancing the accuracy of its results.
• Offers historical insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, in contrast to merely identifying recent use.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Detecting drugs in hair takes about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier compared to other testing approaches.
• Result fluctuations: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth may impact the level of drug metabolites within the hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

For those in Westhampton Beach, NY, hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests with their superior detection accuracy and reliability. The extended detection period and greater resistance to tampering present a more dependable choice for identifying drug usage histories.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Westhampton Beach, NY, extended detection window provides insight into substance use up to 90 days. This longer timeframe allows employers to obtain a comprehensive view of an individual's drug history, offering greater clarity and detail.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Westhampton Beach, NY, hair follicle drug tests greatly minimize the likelihood of sample tampering. Their methodological approach secures reliable results that uphold the integrity and trustworthiness of the testing process, reassuring stakeholders.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Boasting both nationwide reach and local presence in Westhampton Beach, NY, our testing centers offer unparalleled convenience. This facilitates swift and easy access to essential drug testing, ensuring a streamlined experience for all our clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of obtaining and conducting hair follicle tests in Westhampton Beach, NY, is straightforward and confidential. From order to results, privacy and simplicity are prioritised, addressing any concerns while safeguarding user information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and prompt turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Westhampton Beach, NY, offers outstanding value. These advantages benefit businesses of all sizes, delivering peace of mind through cost-effective and efficient service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug tests in Westhampton Beach, NY, provide rapid and trustworthy results, ensuring high accuracy for detecting substance usage. The speed of these tests sets them apart, making them a preferred option for quick assessments without sacrificing precision.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Westhampton Beach, NY, find that hair follicle testing ensures alignment with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal vulnerabilities and enhancing safety. This compliance adds significant value by fostering a secure and lawful work 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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