Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cornwells Heights, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by retaining biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to roughly a 3-month detection window for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively tough to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample, approximately 200 strands of hair (about the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, meeting the ideal conditions for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is advisable for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equal amount of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair alone. "Body hair" refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial stage of processing a sample into a laboratory’s records. This involves confirming that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concluding any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial cursory assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-effective way to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be acceptable in court. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are separated from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Each sample that is presumptive positive is washed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Difficult to deceive: It is extremely challenging to cheat a hair drug test, thus enhancing accuracy.
• Offers historical data: It provides a timeline of drug use over a duration, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days before becoming detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other testing methods.
• Variation in outcomes: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often dubbed as "hair follicle tests," the test analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Cornwells Heights, PA, hair follicle testing outshines urine analysis by providing enhanced detection precision and reliability. Compared to traditional urine tests, hair assessments present superior accuracy, helping employers ensure a safer, compliant workplace environment.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Cornwells Heights, PA, allows for identifying drug use over a significant timeframe—up to 90 days. This extended detection period enables employers to better understand an individual's substance history, crucial for informed decision-making regarding employment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Cornwells Heights, PA, hair follicle tests substantially lower the possibility of sample tampering, providing dependable and irrefutable results. This reduces the risk of adulteration, ensuring confidence in the screening outcomes for both employers and legal bodies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Cornwells Heights, PA, the convenience of extensive nationwide testing centers, including local locations, ensures easy access to hair follicle testing services. This guarantees a quick, hassle-free experience for individuals and employers seeking reliable drug evaluation.

Simple, Confidential Process

The confidential and straightforward process in Cornwells Heights, PA, for hair follicle testing allows for easy scheduling, discreet testing, and secure receipt of results. This user-friendly approach ensures privacy and ease, easing concerns related to the testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and quick turnaround times in Cornwells Heights, PA, highlight the value offered by hair follicle testing. This affordable option delivers exceptional value and assurance for businesses of every size, emphasizing cost-effectiveness alongside reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cornwells Heights, PA, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, precise results, effectively identifying substance usage. The high level of accuracy ensures reliable detection outcomes, crucial for various applications like legal scenarios and employment screenings, making them a preferred method over others.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Cornwells Heights, PA, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks and bolstering workplace safety. The thorough nature of this method provides peace of mind and confidence in maintaining a secure working 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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