Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Eastwood, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can encapsulate markers of alcohol and other substances within its fibers, offering an extended timeline of use. When hair is sampled close to the scalp, it can reveal up to nearly three months of alcohol and drug intake. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

A sample of 1.5 inches, composed of approximately 200 strands of hair (equivalent to a #2 pencil thickness) near the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both preliminary testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is preferred. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for precise measurement. If scalp hair is absent, a proportional amount of body hair can be gathered. When head hair is mentioned, it specifically denotes scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Procedure Summary

The key stages in a laboratory's drug test evaluation include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the sample’s initial integration into a lab’s system. This covers the verification of proper sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplemental data required beyond electronic chain of custody documentation.

Screening acts as an initial scan for potential drug residues. Although Screening is an economical approach for eliminating drug use in most samples, any positive indication must be validated for legal credibility. Samples yielding presumptive positives in Screening call for further confirmation.

For samples flagged positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original set and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug testing the most intricate method.

A confirmed positive from the Screening stage undergoes confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire workflow from Accessioning through Confirmation undergoes review in accordance with CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter periods.
• Hard to manipulate: The integrity of hair drug test results is high due to the difficulty in deception.
• Provides usage history: Offers insight into drug consumption patterns over a duration, rather than just recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of identifying recent consumption: Drugs become traceable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair hue and individual hair growth differences can influence metabolite levels.

Note: Despite frequently being called "hair follicle tests", the evaluation targets the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Eastwood, PA, hair follicle testing proves superior to traditional urine tests due to its enhanced detection accuracy and consistency. With hair tests, stakeholders benefit from longer drug detection windows, which urine tests can't match. This gives more reliable insights into an individual's drug history.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Eastwood, PA, stands out for its extended detection window, revealing drug use up to 90 days back. This advantage allows employers to gain a holistic view of an individual's substance use history, crucial for making informed decisions in recruitment and personnel management.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Eastwood, PA, hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant alternative to drug testing. This method significantly reduces the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring dependable results. With tests nearly impossible to cheat, employers can have confidence in the outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers nationwide, including local facilities in Eastwood, PA, we offer quick and hassle-free access to drug testing services. Our expansive network ensures that individuals can easily find a convenient location to meet their testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Eastwood, PA, our hair follicle testing process is simple and ensures confidentiality. From ordering the test to collecting samples and receiving results, everything is designed to protect privacy while providing clients with a straightforward experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Eastwood, PA, our hair follicle testing solutions offer affordable pricing with rapid turnaround times. This ensures that companies, regardless of size, can access valuable services without straining their budgets, thus providing peace of mind and value.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and swift nature of hair follicle drug tests in Eastwood, PA stand out in detecting substance use. Their high accuracy ensures that employers receive reliable data promptly, supporting quick decision-making. This efficiency makes them a preferred choice for businesses prioritizing safe and drug-free environments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Eastwood, PA, provides employers with compliance and peace of mind. By adhering to drug-free workplace policies, companies can mitigate legal risks and bolster workplace safety, making hair tests a strategic choice for maintaining compliance.

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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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