Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Benson, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands. When cut near the scalp, hair can indicate up to a 3-month detection window for alcohol and drug usage. The collection of hair is straightforward, with minimal susceptibility to tampering, and is easily transportable.

A cut of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (around the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the preferred amount for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, or testing exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It's suggested to measure the hair on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair exclusively pertain to scalp hair. All other hair, including facial and axillary, is categorized as body hair.

Procedure Outline

The main stages in the lab process of drug testing are Entry, Screening, Extraction, and Verification.

Entry refers to the initial integration of a sample into the lab's procedures, ensuring proper sealing and transport, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any data not included in an electronic chain of custody record.

Screening serves as an initial check for drug substances. Although cost-effective and capable of excluding drug use in many samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal proceedings. Any samples with a presumed positive result in Screening require further validation.

Should a sample test positive within the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the sample for the Extraction stage. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug testing the most challenging to execute.

Verification of any positive result from the screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples with presumed positives undergo a washing process before confirmation. The complete lab procedure from Entry to Verification is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing captures drug use for up to three months, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Hard to falsify: Hair drug tests are difficult to tamper with, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides usage trends: It reveals trends in drug consumption over time rather than just recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Recent usage undetectable: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and personal growth differences can alter drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests," the actual test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Benson, PA, surpasses traditional urine tests by offering superior detection precision and dependability. Typically, hair samples provide a far longer detection window, capturing a clearer picture of substance use patterns.

Unlike urine tests, hair analyses are significantly harder to manipulate, thereby ensuring reliability and veracity in test results.

Extended Detection Window

The remarkable aspect of hair follicle testing in Benson, PA, is the extended 90-day detection window. This feature grants employers a thorough account of an individual's substance usage history.

Such a comprehensive analysis provides employers with insightful data, aiding in more informed decision-making regarding applicants and current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Benson, PA, hair follicle testing offers a robust solution against sample tampering. The method's design inherently decreases chances for adulteration, ensuring trustworthy results.

This tamper-resistant nature instills confidence among all parties involved, as the likelihood of manipulated samples diminishes significantly.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Benson, PA, benefits from convenient nationwide hair follicle testing centers, providing accessible, swift, and headache-free services.

The established network ensures that individuals always have easy access, making the testing process straightforward and efficient for all.

Simple, Confidential Process

Offering a straightforward and private process, hair follicle testing in Benson, PA, addresses privacy concerns efficiently, from the order to receiving results.

Individuals benefit from the ease of the procedure, ensuring that their personal information remains confidential throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and fast turnaround highlight the hair follicle testing in Benson, PA, striking a balance between value and promptness for companies of all sizes.

This approach ensures businesses both large and small receive excellent service without imposing hefty financial burdens.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Benson, PA, hair follicle drug tests offer rapid, accurate, and dependable results. These tests boast a high precision level, effectively highlighting even the slightest substance usage.

The speed at which results are delivered is unprecedented, making them preferred by employers who need quick decisions without compromising on accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Benson, PA, hair follicle testing offers compliance with drug-free workplace policies, thereby reducing legal liabilities and enhancing safety.

The peace of mind that comes from knowing their employees are not under undue influence is invaluable and contributes to a safer 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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