Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ashland, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-lasting record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use for around three months. Hair is straightforward to obtain, not easily tampered with, and convenient to mail.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches and containing about 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a sample weighing 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for specimen weight is recommended. If scalp hair can't be acquired, a corresponding quantity of body hair is acceptable. When discussing head hair, it specifically means scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core stages of processing a drug test in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with integrating a sample into a lab's system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not supplied by an electronic custody chain system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drug presence. While Screening is an economical method for dismissing drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples that screen positive require secondary confirmation.

Should a sample test positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug analysis one of the most complex methodologies to execute.

Positive screening results are confirmed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are washed prior to confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and in accordance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug analyses can uncover drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Difficult to compromise: It is quite challenging to outsmart a hair drug test, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It can trace a drug use pattern over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become visible in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug analyses are typically pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: While commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Ashland, PA, hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. Hair tests provide superior detection accuracy and reliability, as they can detect substances far beyond the limited detection window of urine tests. Through advanced techniques, hair testing reveals a more comprehensive picture of drug use, ensuring safer workplaces and informed decision-making.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Ashland, PA, provides an extended detection window, capable of looking into drug use history for up to 90 days. This allows employers an in-depth perspective on the substance habits of current or potential employees, ensuring a thorough evaluation that urine tests cannot match.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Ashland, PA, hair follicle drug tests are a tamper-resistant method, significantly diminishing the chances of sample adulteration. This approach yields reliable and unchallengeable results, offering peace of mind that the samples remain unaltered and genuinely reflective of an individual's substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience in drug testing is assured with our nationwide and local testing centers in Ashland, PA. Our facilities are designed for ease and efficiency, allowing for swift, simple access to testing services. This assures individuals and organizations a hassle-free experience in managing testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple and confidential process of hair follicle testing in Ashland, PA, ensures privacy at each stage — from ordering the test to receiving results. This system prioritizes user-friendliness, addressing concerns regarding ease of use and safeguarding personal information efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Ashland, PA, we offer affordable pricing combined with rapid turnaround times for hair follicle tests. Our competitive pricing strategies ensure great value for organizations of any scale, while swift processing guarantees reliable results without undue delays, providing firms financial benefits and operational efficacy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Ashland, PA, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. They stand out in their precision and speed, offering high reliability in identifying substance use. This method ensures that organizations receive accurate assessments promptly, facilitating quick actions and maintaining a drug-free environment efficiently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Ashland, PA, gain compliance and peace of mind using hair follicle tests. These tests ensure adherence to workplace drug policies, reducing legal concerns and promoting a secure, drug-free working environment. The comprehensive results aid firms in upholding safety and regulatory compliance effortlessly.

Drug Testing Near Ashland, PA

Beurys Lake, PA

Atlas, PA

Mount Carmel, PA

Girardville, PA

Wilburton Number One, PA

Wilburton Number Two, PA

Aristes, PA

Lavelle, PA

Lavelle-Locustdale, PA

Centralia, PA

Locustdale, PA

Fountain Springs, PA

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews