Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Calumet, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair records a prolonged history of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer approximately a three-month window for detecting alcohol and various other substances. It's easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and validating. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. When referring to head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair pertains to all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for drug test analysis encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample in the lab's system. It involves ensuring that the sample was sealed and shipped adequately, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry not included through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary quick assessment for drugs. Although Screening is an economical method for excluding drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples with a presumptive positive during Screening need further confirmation.

If a sample appears positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample to prepare for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is notably challenging to execute.

Any positive screening result is verified via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Incapacity for recent detection: Detection in hair takes around 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other testing techniques.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Calumet, PA, outshines urine tests by providing broader detection windows and enhanced reliability. Unlike urine tests that capture recent drug use, hair testing captures a comprehensive drug history.

Accuracy and reliability are key advantages of hair follicle over urine tests. Providing detailed usage information, it benefits employers seeking thorough substance screening methods.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle tests in Calumet, PA, offer a panoramic perspective on one's substance history.

This long-term insight aids employers in assessing potential hires’ or employees’ drug use, ensuring informed decision-making in Calumet.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Calumet, PA, are renowned for their tamper-resistant features. Their inherent design significantly reduces chances of sample tampering.

Their unquestionable reliability assures employers in Calumet of authentic results, fortifying the integrity of drug-testing initiatives.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience offered by our nationwide testing centers in Calumet, PA, includes easily accessible facilities that simplify the testing process.

Testing in Calumet is now straightforward, thanks to our local and national presence, ensuring quick, hassle-free service access for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Calumet, PA, hair follicle testing boasts a simple, confidential process. From booking to result receiving, privacy is held paramount.

This streamlined approach alleviates concerns about privacy and complexity, ensuring that Calumet residents experience a discreet testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Calumet, PA, hair follicle testing is renowned for its affordable pricing structures, offering economical solutions for businesses irrespective of their size.

The fast turnaround provides value for money and efficiency, satisfying Calumet companies seeking quality and quick results without high costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Calumet, PA, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, precise results. Known for their accuracy and speed, these tests reliably detect substance use with minimal delay.

High accuracy is a hallmark of hair testing. By identifying trace elements of drug use accurately, it offers Calumet, PA, residents a foremost choice in substance testing.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Calumet, PA, find peace of mind in utilizing hair follicle tests. These tests rigorously adhere to drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks.

Compliance with workplace safety standards is enhanced via hair testing. Employers feel reassured of a safer, drug-free 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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