Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dime, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures biomarkers within the growing strand, offering a long-term record of alcohol and drug use. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug use for up to three months. It is straightforward to gather, somewhat tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch length of around 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, an optimal quantity for testing and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or testing over 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. It is advised to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. Head hair pertains only to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (like facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for a drug test result involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory system. This entails ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry not provided by an electronic custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary evaluation for drug presence. While cost-effective for eliminating drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be legally valid. Samples testing positive in Screening need secondary confirmation.

For samples testing positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening highly challenging.

Any positive screening result undergoes Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation when necessary. The end-to-end lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to the shorter detection window of urine tests.
• Challenging to deceive: Hair tests are hard to beat, yielding more reliable outcomes.
• Offers longitudinal information: It shows a timeline of drug use, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs appear in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair testing is generally pricier than other testing techniques.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: It's often termed as "hair follicle tests", but the analyses focus on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Dime, PA In Dime, the preference for hair follicle tests is evident due to their superior detection capabilities.

• Offering a more extended detection window than urine tests.
• Less prone to deception and adulteration.
• Widely recognized for reliability.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Dime, PA Hair follicle testing excels with its long detection period.

• Can uncover substance use over three months old.
• Delivers a detailed history of employee drug use.
• Facilitates informed decision-making for employers.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Dime, PA The integrity of hair tests significantly curtails tampering risks.

• Ensures results remain unaltered, preserving credibility.
• Makes sample adulteration nearly impossible.
• Employers can trust the veracity of test results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Dime, PA Access to hair follicle testing is easy, with locations across the country and in Dime.

• Streamlined, hassle-free testing processes.
• Conveniently located centers in Dime for quick access.
• Consistent and reliable service nationwide.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Dime, PA Our testing procedure prioritizes ease and discretion.

• Straightforward ordering and testing experience.
• Results delivered with confidentiality assured.
• Addresses privacy concerns decisively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Dime, PA Competitive pricing and swift results define our services.

• Cost-effective options provide excellent value.
• Rapid result delivery minimizes wait times.
• Suited for businesses of all sizes in Dime.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Dime, PA Hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and rapidity.

• High accuracy in detecting substance use ensures credible results.
• Precision guarantees minimized false positives.
• Swift processing times convey results promptly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Dime, PA Implementing hair testing supports workplace safety and compliance.

• Aligns with zero-tolerance drug policies.
• Lessens potential legal challenges.
• Enhances overall workplace security.

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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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