Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Chester Hill, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair assessment is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged history of alcohol and substance use by locking biomarkers within the strands of the hair as it develops. When extracted from near the scalp, hair can yield roughly a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprised of about 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will generate 100mg of hair, the preferred quantity for analysis and validation. For EtG tests, additional components, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for specimen measurement. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. In discussions of head hair, it specifically means scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing workflow for a drug test outcome comprises four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial encoding into a laboratory’s database system. This includes ensuring the sample was securely sealed and shipped, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary swift check for substances. Screening is economical and helps rule out drug use in most samples; however, a positive result necessitates confirmation for legal use. Any samples that are tentatively positive in Screening require subsequent confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drug removal occurs at substantially lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which underscores the complexity of performing hair drug assessment.

Any positive findings from Screening are verified via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug evaluations can detect drug intake for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a more limited detection period.
• Resistance to manipulation: Cheating a hair drug examination is highly challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Supply of historical data: It outlines drug consumption patterns over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug examinations generally cost more compared to other testing methods.
• Variability in results: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle and urine drug tests in Chester Hill, PA, the former clearly stands out for its superior detection accuracy and reliability. While traditional urine tests offer insight into recent drug use, hair tests provide a broader view, detecting drug use over a longer period. This extended detection window gives employers a more robust tool for policy enforcement, making hair testing an advantageous choice in many cases.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Chester Hill, PA offers an extended detection window, revealing substance use for up to 90 days. This provides a comprehensive overview of an individual's drug history, beneficial for employers aiming to maintain a safe and drug-free workplace. It is particularly useful in evaluating long-term patterns of use, rather than just recent consumption, which can be critical in assessing overall compliance with company policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Conducting a hair follicle test in Chester Hill, PA, minimizes the risk of sample tampering. Unlike traditional methods, hair tests are difficult to adulterate owing to their observed sample collection process. This ensures results are reliable and unquestionable, providing peace of mind to employers who need concrete evidence of an individual's drug use history without the interference of manipulative tactics.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenient access with nationwide and local centers in Chester Hill, PA. With an extensive network of testing locations, individuals and employers can quickly and easily utilize our services without the hassle. This extensive reach simplifies the testing process, making it a straightforward and accessible option for everyone, regardless of their location across the nation.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our simple and confidential testing process in Chester Hill, PA makes it easy to order, conduct, and receive hair follicle test results. Emphasizing user privacy, each step is designed to provide peace of mind while ensuring accuracy. This streamlined process ensures that clients receive critical information promptly, without compromising personal data or confidentiality, thus catering to privacy-conscious individuals.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Chester Hill, PA businesses benefit from our affordable pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing. We provide competitive pricing strategies to suit companies of all sizes, ensuring cost-effective solutions. Combined with our swift results delivery, Accredited Drug Testing offers excellent value and efficiency, making it a preferred choice for employers seeking quality service without fiscal strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test is a leader in precision and speed in Chester Hill, PA. It boasts high accuracy in identifying substance use over time, providing reliable results with a minimal wait period. This method is preferred by many for its prompt turnaround, ensuring results are both expedited and trustworthy. Employers value this quick and accurate assessment mechanism to make informed decisions backed by scientific data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Chester Hill, PA, hair follicle testing offers a secure way to ensure compliance with workplace drug-free policies. It helps employers mitigate legal risks while maintaining a safer, more productive workplace. With hair testing, companies can reinforce their commitment to a drug-free environment, supporting peace of mind and fostering a culture of trust and compliance that benefits the entire organization.

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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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