Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Elizabeth, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term substance usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair shaft. When obtained near the scalp, hair can deliver a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and easy to transport.

Collect a 1.5-inch segment comprising around 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp to produce 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It is suggested to weigh the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent mass of body hair may be gathered. Reference to head hair pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair signifies all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory's system. This stage includes ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not supplied by an electronic custody system.

Screening encompasses a preliminary rapid review for substance abuse indicators. Although Screening is an economical technique to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen needs validation for legal admissibility. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening require additional confirmation.

When a sample indicates positive in the Screening stage, more hair is extracted from the primary sample for Extraction preparation. In this phase, drugs are extracted from the hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening as the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory journey from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which offer a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to manipulate results: Hair drug tests are difficult to alter, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It can display drug use patterns over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs typically require 5-7 days for hair detectability.
• Expense: Hair tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Variability in results: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Elizabeth, PA, hair follicle tests surpass urine tests by providing a longer detection window, capturing evidence of drug use up to 90 days.
Traditional urine tests are limited to detecting recent use.

With hair testing, capabilities to detect drug misuse are enhanced, ensuring greater accuracy and reliability compared to more traditional methods.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, capturing drug use history up to 90 days prior.
This comprehensive overview aids employers in Elizabeth, PA, in making informed decisions about hiring and maintaining a drug-free workplace.

This prolonged timeframe is beneficial for evaluating patterns of behavior over a more substantial period.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Elizabeth, PA, leads with hair follicle testing by providing a tamper-resistant sample method, greatly minimizing the risk of sample manipulation.
Reliability of results is a key advantage, offering trustworthy outcomes that withstand scrutiny.

The observed collection greatly enhances the integrity and verifiability of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations both nationally and locally in Elizabeth, PA, ensuring easy access to hair follicle testing across the country.
These widespread centers facilitate quick and hassle-free testing processes.

This network ensures that clients can find a location near them with minimal effort and time.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Elizabeth, PA, the testing process is designed to be both simple and confidential, providing peace of mind during every step.
Privacy is ensured from ordering to result retrieval, addressing patient concerns.

The ease of use is a priority, making the entire experience hassle-free and straightforward.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Elizabeth, PA, hair follicle testing is not just about accuracy but also affordable pricing and fast results.
Our competitive pricing structures attract companies of all sizes, offering value and peace of mind.

With a quick turnaround, employers gain the benefits of reliable results without delays, supporting efficient organizational operations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Elizabeth, PA, the hair follicle drug tests excel in delivering prompt and precise outcomes.
Accuracy in detecting substance use is unmatched, with results reaching back up to 90 days, ensuring reliability.

Employers in Elizabeth, PA, prefer hair tests for their consistency and speed of processing, reducing the waiting time to a minimum.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Elizabeth, PA, can trust hair follicle testing to bolster compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
This method reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety by ensuring rules are upheld.

Utilizing hair testing provides peace of mind, ensuring adherence to company policies without bias.

Drug Testing Near Elizabeth, PA

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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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