Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dauphin, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a compelling method for unveiling drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substances by absorbing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. Collecting hair near the scalp can reveal alcohol and drug use within a roughly three-month timeframe. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to dispatch.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for measurement. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable amount of body hair can be submitted. When mentioning head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. The term body hair encompasses all other types (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The procedure to process a drug test result in the lab encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the first step in integrating a sample into the laboratory’s systems. This phase includes confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and delivered, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other essential data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening represents an initial assessment for substances of misuse. While it is a cost-efficient way to rule out drug presence in numerous samples, a positive result needs a confirmed test to be legally viable. Any samples that show presumptive positivity must undergo additional confirmation.

For samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the main sample and readied for Extraction. Here, substances are withdrawn from the hair at lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug testing is one of the most complex methodologies to execute.

Confirming a positive Screening result takes place with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test presumptive positive are cleansed before confirmation if required. The end-to-end lab procedure, from Accessioning through Confirmation, proceeds under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and aligns with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection span: Hair drug testing identifies drug use for up to three months, unlike urine tests that have a more limited timeframe.
• High resistance to tampering: Given the challenge of cheating a hair drug test, results tend to be more reliable.
• Tracks usage history: These tests highlight ongoing patterns of substance use over time, rather than capturing only recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Detection of drugs in hair requires roughly 5-7 days.
• Cost concerns: Hair tests typically involve higher expenses compared to other drug testing methods.
• Results may vary: Elements like hair pigmentation and personal variations in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration found in hair.

Note: While commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", these evaluations analyze the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Excels Over Urine Testing

• In Dauphin, PA, hair follicle testing provides superior detection over urine tests.
• Hair testing boasts a longer detection window, capturing substance use up to 90 days.

More Reliable

• Due to its nature, cheating or falsifying hair tests is significantly harder than urine tests.
• Hair tests provide a comprehensive substance history, aiding employers in maintaining safer workplaces.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window
In Dauphin, PA, hair follicle tests detect drug use over up to 90 days, offering a broad view of an individual's substance use history.

• Employers gain insight into both recent and past behaviors, critical for drug-free environments.
• This in-depth detection window is invaluable for thorough evaluations, surpassing traditional short-term tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Hair Testing
Hair follicle drug tests reduce adulteration risks, providing trusted results in Dauphin, PA.

• These methods outpace urine tests, where tampering is a concern.
• Employers receive accurate, undeniable substance use data.

Integrity of Results

• Hair tests offer integrity and assurance against manipulation, crucial for transparent results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience Across Dauphin, PA
Accredited Drug Testing provides accessible options Nationwide and locally in Dauphin.

• Our centers are strategically located for ease of access by clients.
• Simple scheduling and quick services minimize inconvenience for participants.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Confidential Process
Our hair follicle testing in Dauphin, PA prioritizes confidentiality and simplicity.

• Ordering, sampling, and result retrieval are designed to maintain privacy.
• Clients are assured of a streamlined experience that respects their confidentiality concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround
In Dauphin, PA, our competitive pricing pairs with swift result turnover.

• We offer value-packed drug testing solutions to accommodate businesses of any size.
• Our commitment to affordability ensures all employers can invest in safety without burden.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and SpeedDauphin, PA

• The accuracy of hair follicle drug testing in Dauphin, PA is unmatched, pinpointing substance use with remarkable speed.
• Our centers offer fast processing times without compromising on precision.

Confident Decisions

• Hair tests offer dependable results, empowering decision-makers in sensitive operations.
• Employers favor our tests, which balance promptness with reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers
Hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies in Dauphin, PA.

• Legal risks decrease, and workplace safety is enhanced with reliable substantiation.
• Investing in hair testing is wise for employers striving for comprehensive compliance solutions.

Drug Testing Near Dauphin, PA

Enhaut, PA

New Market, PA

Steelton, PA

Lower Allen, PA

Camp Hill, PA

New Cumberland, PA

Enola, PA

Progress, PA

Susquehanna, PA

Lemoyne, PA

Penbrook, PA

West Fairview, PA

Wormleysburg, PA

Harrisburg, PA

Paxtang, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews