Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cheyney, PA

What it is, How it works

Recognized as an effective tool, hair testing is ideal for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. This method captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the hairs' strands. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug use for up to about a three-month period. This type of sample is straightforward to collect, very hard to tamper with, and easily transportable.

A 1.5-inch segment containing roughly 200 hairs (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg, the optimum sample for both screening and validation. For tests such as EtG add-ons or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, the same amount of body hair can serve as a substitute. When mentioning head hair, it refers specifically to scalp hair only. Body hair denotes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab procedure for evaluating a drug test outcome involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the initial phase of integrating a sample into the lab's framework. This step confirms the sample's proper sealing and transportation, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional record-keeping if not already provided by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening conducts an initial expedited review for substances of abuse. Though screening economically eliminates drug use in most instances, a positive screening must be authenticated for court viability. Any sample presenting a presumptive positive result requires further confirmation.

In cases of presumptive positivity during screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. This involves drug extraction at notably lower concentrations than alternative methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), warranting the complexity in executing hair drug screening.

Positive screening verifications are executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples with presumptive positive outcomes are cleansed as needed. The entire lab operation from Accessioning to Confirmation meets both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO/IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair tests can pinpoint drugs for up to 90 days, compared to the shorter span for urine tests.
• Resistance to deceit: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, hence the results are more precise.
• Historical overview: Provides drug use pattern over time, not just recent ingestion.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: Drugs become apparent in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair testing usually incurs higher costs compared to alternative methods.
• Outcome discrepancies: Hair color and personal hair growth variations can influence metabolite concentrations.

Note: Commonly dubbed as "hair follicle tests," the procedure analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over urine tests in Cheyney, PA. The comprehensive detection window provides enhanced accuracy, offering a more reliable assessment of an individual's substance history.

While urine tests cover a short detection period, hair follicle testing presents a long-term view of substance use, making it a superior alternative for environments where reliability and accuracy are paramount.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Cheyney, PA, detect substance use over an extensive period, up to 90 days. This capability allows employers to get a thorough understanding of an individual’s drug history.

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing offers companies an insightful examination of whether an applicant or employee adheres to a drug-free lifestyle, ensuring informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests are almost impossible to tamper with, providing trustworthy results in Cheyney, PA. This testing method reduces the risk of adulteration, ensuring that samples remain uncontaminated and accurate.

Employers can rely on these tests to deliver unadulterated and reliable results, reducing complexities associated with sample tampering typical in other testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of having hair follicle testing centers nationwide, including Cheyney, PA, ensures easy access and hassle-free testing. These geographically diverse locations facilitate swift and simple drug testing.

Local testing centers offer accessibility, providing efficient and convenient services, aligning with corporate needs and personal requirements.

Simple, Confidential Process

Cheyney, PA residents benefit from a straightforward and confidential hair follicle testing process. From order placement to taking the test and receiving results, every step prioritizes privacy.

The uncomplicated nature of this testing process alleviates privacy concerns, granting participants confidence and ease throughout each stage.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times distinguish our services in Cheyney, PA. Competitive pricing coupled with swift results adds significant value for businesses of all sizes.

Organizations receive excellent value, thanks to our cost-effective solutions and prompt service, reinforcing the practicality and efficacy of hair follicle testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cheyney, PA, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and accuracy, making them the preferred choice for precise substance detection. With the ability to identify drug use over an extended period, these tests ensure comprehensive and reliable results.

The rapid results of hair follicle testing minimize delays in getting the necessary information. This efficient testing procedure provides prompt, accurate feedback essential for employers and other testing entities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Cheyney, PA employers benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies, thus minimizing legal risks while enhancing safety.

Employers achieve peace of mind knowing that they are consistently upholding rigorous standards, reducing potential repercussions linked to workplace violations.

Drug Testing Near Cheyney, PA

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Cheyney University, PA

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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