Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Duncansville, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments have become increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term drug and alcohol history by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When cut close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of approximately three months for alcohol and various drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

An adequate sample consists of a 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yielding 100mg of hair, essential for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent portion of body hair may be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair pertains to all other types (facial, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four key stages in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into the lab’s system. This process includes confirming that the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody process.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated for court acceptance. Any samples presumed positive during Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive result during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug analysis is one of the more challenging methods to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All preliminary positive samples undergo washing as required prior to confirmation. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed in accordance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can reveal drug use up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• High resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, ensuring higher result accuracy.
• Provides usage history: It can exhibit a pattern of drug usage over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Inconsistent results: Elements such as hair color and personal growth rate may influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Duncansville, PA, hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over urine tests. Its superior detection capabilities provide a more accurate picture of an individual's substance history. Unlike urine tests, which might miss some drug use, hair tests reveal consistent usage patterns, offering employers and professionals better reliability.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Duncansville, PA benefit from hair follicle testing due to its extended detection window. This method can reveal drug usage from up to 90 days in the past, offering a broad perspective on an individual’s engagement with substances over time, unlike other tests which might have a shorter timeframe for detection.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Duncansville, PA, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing reduces risks associated with sample deception. Unlike other methods, hair samples are much harder to manipulate, providing results that are reliable and unquestionable, ensuring confidence in the test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing centers in Duncansville, PA, and across the nation make accessing hair follicle testing convenient. With nationwide and local locations, individuals benefit from quick and hassle-free service access, ensuring an easy testing experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Duncansville, PA, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. We prioritize privacy at every step, from ordering the test to receiving results, addressing any concerns regarding confidentiality and ease of use, and ensuring a straightforward process for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Duncansville, PA, ensuring great value. Our competitive pricing structures and quick results provide peace of mind and are suitable for businesses of all sizes, making our services accessible and budget-friendly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Duncansville, PA, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its accuracy and speed. It's renowned for quick and precise results that thoroughly detect substance use. This method offers a high level of assurance that other tests might miss, making it a preferred choice for those who need fast yet dependable results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Duncansville, PA, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method not only enhances safety but also offers peace of mind by reducing legal risks. Companies can maintain a secure work environment, knowing they are minimizing potential substance-related issues.

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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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