Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cherry Hill, VA

What it is, How it works

The utilization of hair testing has emerged as a significant method for recognizing the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a lasting record of alcohol and drug intake by incorporating biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. Hair samples collected directly from the scalp can offer a detection period that spans up to nearly three months for both alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to send.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 strands of hair (around the diameter of a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp, will produce 100mg of hair, serving as the optimal sample for both initial screening and confirmation. For tests related to EtG, additional panels, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not accessible, the equivalent amount of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we strictly mean scalp hair. Body hair, on the other hand, refers to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning involves the initial inclusion of a sample within a laboratory’s system, which encompasses ensuring proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial swift assessment for drugs of abuse. As a cost-efficient method, Screening helps exclude drug usage in the bulk of samples; however, a positive screen requires confirmation for court validity. Presumptively positive samples during Screening mandate additional confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, extra hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are removed from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug screening is notably challenging.

Confirmation of a positive screening result occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with presumptive positivity undergo a washing process before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory sequence from Accessioning through 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 period: Hair drug tests can identify drug utilization for a duration of up to 90 days, compared to urine tests that possess a more limited detection period.
• Challenging to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a pattern of drug usage over time, not just recent incidents of use.

Limitations:

• Inability to spot recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites within the hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Cherry Hill, VA, shines brightly when compared to traditional urine tests. The significant advantage lies in its superior accuracy and reliability. Hair tests reveal broader detection windows that are unmatched by urine tests, offering a more comprehensive picture.

While urine tests may suit recent substance use detection, hair testing prevails in Cherry Hill, VA, due to its unparalleled accuracy. Through advanced methodologies, hair follicle evaluations provide detailed and dependable insights into an individual's substance history.

Extended Detection Window

Cherry Hill, VA, benefits greatly from the extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing. Employers can evaluate substance use over a prolonged period, up to 90 days, offering a deeper understanding of an individual's substance habits.

The longevity of detection is where hair tests excel in Cherry Hill, VA. By revealing substance use over several months, these tests empower employers with a thorough examination of an individual's history, crucial for informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Cherry Hill, VA, provides a strong defense against tampering, ensuring test results are trustworthy. The design of these tests inherently minimizes opportunities for falsification, delivering confidence in outcomes.

With a focus on dependability, Cherry Hill's hair tests effectively thwart attempts at tampering. Their robust design promotes accuracy, making the results an undeniable standard for substance detection.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers unparalleled convenience with nationwide and local facilities in Cherry Hill, VA. By ensuring accessible testing locations, individuals and companies can swiftly utilize our reliable services anytime they need.

Whether locally or across the country, our network of testing centers makes it simple to access timely drug testing services in Cherry Hill, VA. Our locations cater to the needs of a bustling community by delivering efficient and hassle-free testing experiences.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplicity and privacy define our process in Cherry Hill, VA, ensuring a straightforward path from test ordering to results acquisition. Users can comfortably navigate the testing steps, knowing their confidentiality is paramount.

In Cherry Hill, ease of use and confidentiality are at the heart of our testing services. From beginning to conclusion, each aspect of the process assures users of unparalleled privacy while seeking dependable results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cherry Hill, VA, enjoys affordable and expedient services through our competitive pricing and rapid result delivery. Companies leverage our cost-effective testing solutions to achieve peace of mind without breaking the bank.

Economical pricing and swift processing in Cherry Hill, VA, distinguish our hair follicle testing services. Committed to delivering value, we ensure every organization can access high-quality testing without sacrificing budget constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cherry Hill, VA, hair follicle drug testing promises swift, precise, and reliable outcomes. The process distinguishes itself with unparalleled accuracy in spotting substance use. Its adeptness in delivering fast and certain results cements its role as a valuable asset for substance monitoring.

Witness the remarkable accuracy of hair follicle tests in Cherry Hill, VA. These assessments provide quick and dependable findings, fortifying their status as a crucial method for identifying substance traces with exceptional precision.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Cherry Hill, VA, hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind. By adhering to drug-free workplace policies, companies can mitigate legal risks and bolster a secure working environment.

The assurance of policy compliance is critical in Cherry Hill, VA. Hair testing showcases an employer’s commitment to a drug-free setting, thereby enhancing both safety and legal standing with its credible results.

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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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