Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Atlantic, PA

What it is, How it works

Detection of substance use through hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method. Hair captures a historic record of alcohol and drug presence by encasing biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When hair is cut near the scalp, it offers a detection period of up to three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising around 200 hair strands (roughly the circumference of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp equates to about 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or testing exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. Should scalp hair not be obtainable, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers only to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" pertains to all other hair types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the step where a sample is initially processed into a lab's system; it includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any required data entry that couldn't be addressed by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening constitutes an initial rapid assessment to identify drugs of abuse. While it is an economical method to generally exclude drug use, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples that presumptively test positive during Screening require further confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair from the original sample is utilized for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are recovered from hair at much lower concentrations than via other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening a challenging method.

Confirming any positives from Screening is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test presumptive positive are washed before confirmation if necessary. The complete process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which cover a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: The difficulty in deception enhances the accuracy of hair drug tests.
• Historical insight: It provides a drug use pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Not suitable for recent use detection: Drugs take about 5-7 days to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be more costly compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis involves the hair strand, not the root beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Atlantic, PA, offers substantial advantages over urine tests. Its superior detection window and accuracy provide a robust solution for identifying substance use.
Compared to urine tests, which have a limited detection window, hair tests can identify drug use up to 90 days prior, making them reliable for ongoing monitoring and assessments.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Atlantic, PA, benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection capabilities, offering insight into up to 90 days of an individual's drug use history.
This comprehensive view aids employers in making informed decisions, providing an accurate reflection of the applicant or employee's past substance use tendencies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Atlantic, PA, hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method, reducing the chances of sample adulteration and ensuring the integrity of results.
The robustness of this testing method assures employers and authorities of the authenticity and accuracy of the results, safeguarding against manipulation and deceitful practices.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With multiple testing centers nationwide, including Atlantic, PA, accessing drug testing services is seamless and convenient.
Our strategically placed facilities ensure quick, trouble-free testing processes for employers and individuals alike, offering perfect solutions for comprehensive drug screening across diverse locations.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Atlantic, PA, is simple and confidential, assuring ease of ordering, participation, and result acquisition.
Addressing any privacy concerns, our discreet process maintains confidentiality at every step, ensuring a worry-free experience for all participants involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Atlantic, PA, hair follicle testing services are priced competitively, with fast result turnaround times, offering remarkable value for businesses.
Our pricing structures cater to companies of all sizes, providing peace of mind with an economical and efficient drug testing option for employers looking for reliable service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Atlantic, PA, hair follicle testing ensures fast, precise, and reliable outcomes, making it a preferred choice for drug testing. The detailed analysis of hair samples detects substance use with a high degree of accuracy, providing results that employers can trust.
This method not only speeds up the detection process but also significantly improves the precision of the analysis compared to other testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Atlantic, PA, supports workplace compliance with drug-free policies, enhancing employer assurance and peace of mind.
This reliable method mitigates legal risks and promotes a safer working environment, ensuring that all employees comply with established substance-use policies.

Drug Testing Near Atlantic, PA

Kerrtown, PA

Pymatuning North, PA

Reynolds Heights, PA

Linesville, PA

Harmonsburg, PA

Pymatuning Central, PA

Conneaut Lakeshore, PA

Sheakleyville, PA

Greenville, PA

Geneva, PA

Conneaut Lake, PA

Pymatuning South, PA

Jamestown, PA

Hartstown, PA

Adamsville, 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.

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