Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Topsham, VT

What it is, How it works

Using hair for testing has become recognized as an effective method in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encases a lengthy timeline of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's growing fibers. When sampled near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe of nearly three months for alcohol and additional substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to send.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG, additional panels, or those exceeding 10 panels, it is recommended to collect 150mg of the sample. It's advised to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The primary stages in processing a drug test result in the laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s framework. This process verifies that the sample is sealed and transported correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills out any missing information not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

The Screening stage performs an initial quick check for drugs of abuse. Though Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for it to be valid in legal contexts. Samples testing presumptively positive in Screening need further confirmation.

For samples testing presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentration levels compared to other methodologies (like urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are washed as necessary before confirmation. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests detect drug use up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests, which have shorter detection periods.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Shows historical usage: The test can reveal a drug use pattern over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair around 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often described as "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing surpasses conventional urine tests in Topsham, VT, delivering greater detection accuracy and dependability. These tests reveal substance use over extended durations, providing a superior assessment method.

Extended Detection Window

With their extensive detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle tests in Topsham, VT, allow employers to evaluate employee or applicant substance history comprehensively, offering a broader perspective than traditional tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Topsham, VT, significantly curb sample alteration risks, offering assured results. These reliable testing methods prevent tampering, delivering confidence in test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing centers, conveniently accessible in Topsham, VT, facilitate easy access to testing services, providing a seamless and efficient testing experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Topsham, VT, offers a confidential and straightforward process for ordering, undergoing, and obtaining hair follicle test results, ensuring user privacy and ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and swift turnaround make our hair follicle tests an attractive option for companies in Topsham, VT, offering excellent value for organizations of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Topsham, VT, hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled precision and speed, ensuring trustworthy results. These tests accurately detect substance consumption, ensuring users have high confidence in the outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Topsham, VT, ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. It mitigates legal risks and enhances corporate safety, providing employers with compliance assurance and peace of mind.

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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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