Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Strafford, VT

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can reveal up to about a 3-month window of detection for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, less susceptible to tampering, and simple to ship.

A sample of around 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 strands of hair (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additions, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is recommended to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. On the other hand, body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the first step involving the integration of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process includes ensuring that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry that might not be covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for substance abuse. Although it is an economical way to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be legally valid. Any samples that are presumptively positive during Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial specimen to prepare for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations much lower than those in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening more complex to conduct.

Positive screening results are verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are washed as needed before confirmation. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection window.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, thus yielding more precise results.
• Provides historical data: It can illustrate a pattern of substance use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become evident in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests typically have higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite often being referred to as "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand itself, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers superior benefits over urine tests in Strafford, VT. Hair tests detect a broader range of drugs and have a longer detection window, up to 90 days. By contrast, urine tests generally detect recent drug use, typically within a few days.

Enhanced accuracy is another advantage of hair testing. As hair analysis is less susceptible to false positives and manipulation compared to urine tests, employers receive more credible data to make informed decisions.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Strafford, VT, presents a critical advantage, with the ability to trace drug use back up to 90 days. This allows employers and legal systems to gain a deeper understanding of an individual’s history of substance use.

Unlike other tests, this method provides a long-term perspective on an applicant or employee's drug habits, aiding in thorough background checks and robust hiring processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Reducing tampering risks is a significant strength of hair follicle testing in Strafford, VT. By utilizing this method, the chance of altering samples significantly diminishes, ensuring authentic and trustworthy results.

With tamper-resistant attributes intrinsic to hair analysis, these tests provide unmatched security and reliability in detecting drug use, giving peace of mind to those relying on the outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing locations across the nation, Strafford, VT residents benefit from quick and hassle-free access to drug testing services. Accredited Drug Testing offers easy-to-reach sites to reduce travel time and logistical complications.

This network of nationwide centers ensures businesses and individuals can obtain tests efficiently, supporting timely and efficient decision-making processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplicity and confidentiality are prioritized in the testing process offered in Strafford, VT. The ordering, sample taking, and result retrieval are kept straightforward, ensuring ease of use while preserving participant privacy throughout.

Clients can trust in the confidential nature of the process, with discreet handling of personal data contributing to a sense of security and trust during testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-effective options are a key feature of hair follicle testing services in Strafford, VT. Competitive pricing coupled with fast turnaround times provides exceptional value for businesses of various scales, ranging from small enterprises to major corporations.

Besides affordable rates, the rapid processing of results assures employers of swift and efficient service, aiding in timely decision-making processes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Accurate Results are a hallmark of hair follicle drug tests in Strafford, VT, offering unmatched precision in identifying substance use. Their accuracy rate surpasses that of traditional tests, ensuring employers and legal entities can count on reliable outcomes.

Not only do hair follicle tests provide quick results, but they also offer unmatched reliability. The speed at which results are delivered enhances decision-making processes, making planning smoother for workplaces requiring rapid substantiation of drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Strafford, VT, ensures compliance with rigorous workplace drug-free policies. This testing method fortifies legal standing and promotes safety by minimizing workplace hazards associated with drug use.

Employers gain peace of mind knowing they are upholding critical safety standards and reducing legal liabilities related to substance misuse in the workplace.

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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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