Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Audubon, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now viewed as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair keeps a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of roughly up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section, consisting of about 200 hair strands (equal in size to a #2 pencil), taken from the scalp can produce 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional substances, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, it's advisable to use 150mg of the specimen. We suggest measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. 'Head hair' indicates only scalp hair, whereas 'body hair' includes all other hair types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The key steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning incorporates the initial handling of a sample into the lab’s system, which includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any incomplete data entry not available via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drug abuse. While cost-effective for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in legal contexts. Presumptively positive screenings call for a follow-up confirmation.

If positive in the Screening phase, more hair from the original sample is gathered for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most complex method to execute.

Any positive screening is confirmed through methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing as necessary before confirmation. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under strict guidelines, including CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Capable of identifying drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Hard to falsify results: It's exceedingly tough to manipulate a hair drug test, thus ensuring result accuracy.
• Shows historical patterns: Can reveal a timeline of drug use over time instead of just recent activity.

Drawbacks:

• Unable to detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to register in hair.
• Expense: Typically more costly than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth deviations can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Frequently known as "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair tests to urine tests in Audubon, PA, the former's superiority is clear. Hair testing offers enhanced accuracy and reliability, depicting a more comprehensive picture of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Audubon, PA, covers drug use detection over an extended period, up to 90 days. This thorough assessment provides employers with a detailed overview of an individual's substance history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in Audubon, PA, is notably tamper-resistant. This ensures that samples are safeguarded from adulteration, yielding reliable and irrefutable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Audubon, PA, the convenience of our nationwide and local testing facilities provides effortless access to services, ensuring a seamless and stress-free testing experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ordering, undertaking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Audubon, PA, is a straightforward and confidential process, addressing privacy issues with ease and simplicity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Audubon, PA, provide remarkable value and reassurance to businesses of various sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests are known for speed and precision. In Audubon, PA, these tests ensure rapid and reliable results, making them a top choice for accurate substance use detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Audubon, PA, gain assurance and compliance peace with hair follicle testing. It supports drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal issues while promoting a safe work environment.

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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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