Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Blakeslee, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures lasting traces of substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. With a sample taken near the scalp, it can reveal a detection period stretching up to roughly 3 months for various substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, tampering with it is relatively challenging, and it's convenient for shipping.

A sample of 1.5 inches, comprising approximately 200 hair strands (equal to a #2 pencil's width) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weighing 150mg is advisable. It's best to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent mass of body hair can be obtained. By "head hair," we specifically mean scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other varieties (such as facial hair, underarm hair, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in processing a drug test in the lab entail Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, an initial assessment integrates the sample into a laboratory's system, ensuring it's received with intact seals and shipping. Each sample is allotted a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), with additional data entry completed as necessary absent an electronic chain of custody system.

In Screening, samples undergo a preliminary examination to rule out drug presence. Although Screening is cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in most samples, positive findings must be validated for legal admissibility. Those testing presumptive positive in Screening require further confirmation.

Should Screening yield a presumptive positive result, additional hair from the primary sample is readied for Extraction, wherein substance extraction occurs at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine, saliva), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation procedures for positive screens employ GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Prior to confirmation, all presumptively positive samples are cleaned as necessary. The complete lab process, spanning Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Sustained detection period: Hair tests catch drug use for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Curbing manipulation: Successfully falsifying a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insights: Offers drug use patterns over time, unlike assessments of only recent activity.

Limitations:

• Failure to detect recent use: Drugs generally become traceable in hair after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair screenings are typically more costly than alternate testing methods.
• Inconsistent results: Variables like hair pigmentation and individual growth rates can influence metabolite concentrations.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests," the examination focuses on the hair shaft instead of the subdermal follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Blakeslee, PA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests. Offering superior detection and reliability, hair tests reveal substance use over a much longer duration and are far more challenging to deceive than urine tests, making them the preferred choice for many.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Blakeslee, PA, provides an extensive detection window, tracking substance use for up to 90 days. This offers employers comprehensive insights into a person's long-term drug habits, which is particularly valuable in assessing potential or existing employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Blakeslee, PA, hair follicle tests are a tamper-resistant method, significantly reducing the chance of sample adulteration. These tests deliver reliable results that are hard to question, ensuring a higher level of integrity in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing services are convenient, with facilities available nationwide and locally in Blakeslee, PA. Accessing testing services is made simple thanks to our broad network of testing centers, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Blakeslee, PA, we ensure a simple and confidential testing process. From ordering to results, our procedure is designed to maintain privacy and ease, addressing any concerns about confidentiality and simplicity in drug testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Blakeslee, PA offers affordable pricing and fast turnaround for drug testing. Our competitive price structures and quick results delivery present excellent value, providing peace of mind for companies, no matter their size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled in Blakeslee, PA. These tests offer quick results, providing timely and precise detection of substance use. Their high accuracy in identifying drug use makes them an invaluable tool for employers and other agencies.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Blakeslee, PA can achieve higher compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to drug-free policies, minimizing legal risks and promoting a safer workplace 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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