Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Candor, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair encapsulates a long-term record of alcohol and drug consumption by securing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. With a sample obtained near the scalp, hair can offer around a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will produce 100mg, the optimal sample size for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels above 10, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest weighing the hair sample using a jeweler's scale. Where scalp hair is unavailable, the equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When referencing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test result in a lab involves four key stages, namely Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample undergoes the initial incorporation into a lab’s system. This phase ensures that the sample was sealed and dispatched properly, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completes any extra data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary inspection for substances of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-effective measure to dismiss drug usage in most samples, any positive findings require verification to be legally acceptable. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening must undergo secondary Confirmation.

In the event of a presumptive positive in the Screening step, additional hair from the original sample is utilized for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a concentration significantly lower when compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening a challenging technique.

Confirmation of a positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed prior to needed confirmation. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests have the ability to identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Provides historical data: It offers a timeline of drug usage across a duration, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It requires between 5 to 7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are mostly pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Issues like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Candor, PA, hair follicle testing is proving to be a superior alternative to urine testing. Hair tests offer benefits such as a longer detection period and superior accuracy in identifying drug use. Employers can rely on hair testing to uncover substance use with unparalleled reliability, offering a more comprehensive understanding than traditional urine tests.

When comparing hair and urine tests, hair follicle testing comes out on top due to its effectiveness in detecting drug use over a broader timeline. This makes it a preferred method for organizations striving for accurate and dependable screening results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Candor, PA, stands out due to its ability to detect drug use over extended periods, up to 90 days. This comprehensive approach provides employers with a detailed insight into an individual's substance history, basing decisions on a thorough analysis.

The extended detection window offered by hair testing allows organizations to monitor substance use patterns effectively. By opting for hair follicle tests, Candor employers ensure a wide-ranging assessment of potential substance use, enhancing the screening process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Candor, PA, offers a significant advantage with its tamper-resistant nature, virtually eliminating the risk of sample adulteration. This ensures that results are reliable and subject to minimal manipulation.

Employers seeking assurance of sample integrity find hair testing ideal due to its robust structure against tampering. With a stringent collection process in place, the results are trustworthy, providing confidence in screening outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Candor, PA, Accredited Drug Testing caters to convenience with nationwide and local testing centers, offering easy access to hair follicle testing services. The broad network ensures that clients can swiftly and effortlessly schedule their tests without hassle.

Whether you're in Candor or beyond, our testing locations guarantee accessible services, promoting a smooth testing process. The seamless availability of these centers underscores our commitment to client convenience and satisfaction.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Candor, PA, the process of hair follicle testing is simple and confidential, ensuring user privacy at all times. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is straightforward, designed to alleviate concerns over privacy and ease of use.

With an emphasis on client confidentiality, our process stands out for its simplicity and security. Those in need of testing services can approach us with confidence, knowing that their privacy remains a top priority throughout the procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround times in Candor, PA, underscoring excellent value for companies of all sizes. Our affordable pricing structures complement the quick delivery of results, providing peace of mind.

Balancing cost and quality, we ensure exceptional value for our clients. The swift turnaround times and cost-effective solutions highlight our commitment to serving businesses across various sectors with efficiency and excellence.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Candor, PA, hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed in detecting substance use. Their high accuracy allows for detailed analysis, paving the way for fast and reliable results. Unlike traditional methods, this advanced technique delivers clear outcomes quicker, ensuring that all stakeholders gain prompt insights into the screening process.

With hair testing, the margin of error significantly diminishes. Each test undergoes rigorous procedures, verifying its accuracy. Employers and individuals in Candor can thus trust the outcomes, assured by the consistent reliability of results provided promptly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Candor, PA, gain peace of mind through hair follicle testing, securing compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces legal risks and bolsters workplace safety, creating a healthier work environment.

By leveraging hair tests, employers can ensure full adherence to set standards. This not only aids in maintaining policy compliance but also enhances employee well-being, minimizing workplace drug-related issues.

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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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