Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Fairlee, VT

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a robust means of detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair holds a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers in the growing hair strand's fibers. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer up to a three-month period of detection for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of about 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount needed for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair isn't obtainable, an identical quantity of body hair might be used. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal steps involved in processing a laboratory drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's system. This includes ensuring the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning a randomized LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises a basic rapid test for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result needs validation to be accepted in a legal setting. Any specimens that appear positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a sample appears positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair at notably lower concentrations than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most complex methodology available.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is executed with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are tentatively positive are cleansed before confirmation if needed. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection range.
• Harder to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely challenging, resulting in more reliable results.
• Offers a history: It can reveal a timeline of drug usage, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It usually takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are generally pricier compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the level of drug metabolites present in the hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing: In West Fairlee, VT, hair follicle tests provide an advantage over traditional urine tests. Their superior detection accuracy allows for a broader timeframe of substance use review, offering unmatched reliability.

Compared to urine tests, hair testing prevents adulteration, ensuring an accurate assessment. This makes it a strong choice for those seeking trusted evaluations over an extended period.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window: Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection timeframe, covering up to 90 days of substance intake in West Fairlee, VT. This provides employers with a thorough understanding of an individual's drug use history.

By utilizing this method, companies can evaluate an employee's or prospective hire's long-term habits, offering a clearer insight into their behavior over time.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method: In West Fairlee, VT, hair follicle tests offer a significant deterrent to sample tampering. The method reduces the possibility of manipulation, delivering results that are both trusted and verifiable.

Through rigorous testing procedures, these tests maintain a high level of integrity, making them a preferred choice for accurate substance detection.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations: Accredited Drug Testing offers easy access to testing services with locations across the nation and locally in West Fairlee, VT. Employees and employers alike benefit from our expansive network.

This extensive reach ensures a hassle-free experience, making drug testing straightforward wherever you may need it.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process: In West Fairlee, VT, the process for ordering, undertaking, and receiving hair follicle test results is designed to be straightforward and private. Clients can rest assured that their information remains confidential.

This user-friendly approach addresses concerns about privacy, ensuring peace of mind throughout the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround: In West Fairlee, VT, we offer competitive prices and rapid test results, guaranteeing excellent value and efficiency for businesses of varying scales.

Our services balance quality with cost-effectiveness, essential for organizations seeking quick and reliable testing solutions without breaking the budget.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results: In West Fairlee, VT, hair follicle drug tests are lauded for their precision and speed. These tests ensure an exceptional level of accuracy in identifying substance use, thereby offering individuals and organizations dependable results.

Hair tests are an excellent choice for detecting various substances efficiently, providing more precise results than other testing methods. Whether for employment or legal needs, this method stands out in reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers: Using hair follicle testing in West Fairlee, VT, supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This not only mitigates legal risks but also boosts overall safety.

Employers benefit from the peace of mind that comes with maintaining a compliant and safe working environment, fostering trust and security among staff.

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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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