Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Alba, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair records a prolonged history of alcohol and other drugs through the capture of biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use for up to roughly a 3-month period. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of the hair is advised. We suggest utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair variations (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning covers the sample's initial integration into a lab’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and delivered, providing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not furnished by an electronic custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective solution to discard drug use in most cases, a positive result must undergo confirmation to be acceptable in legal settings. Any sample found presumptively positive in Screening requires subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample be deemed presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction preparation. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair in significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing is the most challenging method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation where needed. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is subjected to review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use extending up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• Cheating deterrent: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring higher result accuracy.
• Historical consumption tracking: It highlights a drug use pattern over time, not only recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: Drugs need around 5-7 days to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier compared to alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the test actually evaluates the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Choose Hair Follicle Testing Over Urine Tests in Alba, PA? Hair testing offers a superior detection window, accurately identifying drug use over an extended period, compared to urine tests. It is especially effective at capturing a broader substance use history, presenting a more comprehensive analysis that is unmatched by traditional urine testing methods.

Extended Detection Window

An impressive feature of hair follicle testing in Alba, PA is its ability to detect drug use over a prolonged window of up to 90 days. This extended detection period allows employers to gain thorough insights into an individual's substance use history, making hair testing a superior choice for long-term monitoring and assessments, significantly supporting informed decision-making processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Alba, PA, the hair follicle testing method significantly reduces the chance of sample tampering, ensuring trustworthy results. Unlike other testing methods that may be vulnerable to adulteration, hair testing provides an extra layer of security and integrity, making it an excellent choice for reliable testing, trusted by employers and institutions alike.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenience with both nationwide and local testing locations, including Alba, PA. Easily accessible and hassle-free, our centers offer quick and efficient testing services, providing clients with the flexibility they need to undergo testing at a location of their choice, ensuring comfort and accessibility.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Alba, PA is designed to be simple and confidential, meeting privacy concerns head-on. From ordering to taking tests and receiving results, each step is straightforward and secure, providing users with the assurance that their privacy is respected and that they navigate the testing process with ease and convenience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Alba, PA, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, ensuring affordable and fast services for businesses of all sizes. Our pricing structures provide excellent value, and our rapid result delivery enhances peace of mind for companies, allowing them to maintain operational efficiency without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Alba, PA, hair follicle testing stands out for its precision and speed, offering fast, accurate, and reliable results. The method excels in detecting substance use, ensuring that test results are both dependable and securely delivered. This high accuracy in hair testing provides confidence for those needing conclusive answers swiftly, enhancing workplace safety and adherence to policies.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Alba, PA find peace of mind with hair follicle testing, as it supports compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By implementing this tamper-resistant testing method, businesses can minimize legal risks and promote a safe work environment, ensuring both compliance and safety are priorities.

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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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