Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Darby Township, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by incorporating biomarkers into its fibers as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to about a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat tough to alter, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, additional, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair may be obtained. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This involves checking that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage on most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in court. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening do require a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined 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 tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to evade: It is very challenging to falsify a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Offers historical data: It can present a pattern of drug use over an extended period, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally more costly than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can affect the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Darby Township, PA, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests are more dependable than their traditional counterparts, offering a more extensive historical perspective on substance use. Compared to urine tests, which might miss recent drug use beyond a certain period, hair testing captures a comprehensive drug use timeline.

Extended Detection Window

In Darby Township, PA, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window for drug use, covering up to 90 days. This longer timeframe offers a thorough overview of an employee's prior substance use, a crucial aspect for employers assessing long-term drug use patterns. The extended window enhances the understanding and monitoring of an individual's drug history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Darby Township, PA, is known for its tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests significantly mitigate the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring truthful, uncontaminated results. This advantage provides peace of mind to employers and authorities who rely on accurate test results for decisive actions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers and local services in Darby Township, PA, obtaining a hair follicle test is hassle-free. Our widespread network ensures that individuals and employers benefit from accessible and swift testing solutions, making the process as seamless and efficient as possible.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Darby Township, PA, the simple, confidential process of hair follicle testing addresses privacy concerns while ensuring ease of use. From ordering the test to receiving results, our process is designed to prioritize your privacy and convenience, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Darby Township, PA, our hair follicle testing services feature affordable pricing and fast turnaround. Companies of all sizes benefit from our competitive rates and quick result delivery, which enhances value and minimizes wait times. This affordability does not compromise accuracy, offering excellent results promptly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Darby Township, PA, set them apart. These tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results, effectively identifying substance use. The methodologies involved ensure a high degree of accuracy, providing trustworthy outcomes in minimal time frames. Furthermore, the robustness of this testing form guarantees consistency in results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Darby Township, PA, benefit from hair follicle testing due to assured compliance and peace of mind. This testing method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, diminishes legal risks, and strengthens workplace safety. With reliable test results, employers feel confident in their comprehensive drug use monitoring practices.

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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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