Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Export, PA

What it is, How it works

The utilization of hair testing has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged historical record of alcohol and drug intake by securing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When extracted near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a roughly 3-month period of drug and alcohol activity. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to send.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, containing around 200 strands (similar in width to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, will provide 100 mg of hair, considered the perfect sample size for screening and validation. For EtG tests, supplemental assessments, and/or tests that exceed 10 panels, a 150 mg specimen is advised. It's best to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is absent, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. References to head hair pertain exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome typically comprises four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary handling of a specimen into a laboratory's system. This process verifies that the specimen was appropriately sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any ancillary data entries absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening provides a budget-friendly mechanism to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result from the screen necessitates confirmation for legal acceptance. All samples that indicate presumptive positivity in Screening must undergo further confirmation.

Should a presumptive positive emerge during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction process. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations than other approaches (such as urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of performing hair drug screening.

The Confirmation of any positive screen results is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Prior to confirmation, any presumptively positive samples undergo washing as necessary. Both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards oversee the comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can unveil drug use up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Resistance to tampering: It proves notably difficult to deceive a hair drug test, rendering the results more trustworthy.
• Chronological substance usage record: It offers an overview of drug use patterns over time, rather than solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Export, PA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing with its superior detection capabilities. The accuracy and reliability of hair tests mean they're preferred for ensuring drug-free policies.

Compared to urine testing, hair follicle tests offer a broader detection period, making them invaluable tools for many organizations in need of thorough screening.

Extended Detection Window

Offering a detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Export, PA provides employers with a comprehensive view of an individual's drug use history.

This extended timeframe is crucial for employers aiming to ensure a drug-free environment. As a result, hair tests are increasingly the go-to choice for detailed substance use assessments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Export, PA is known for its tamper-resistant qualities. The difficulty in adulterating hair samples ensures results remain credible and indisputable.

This naturally tamper-proof approach offers peace of mind, reducing concerns of compromise and boosting confidence in test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers, including accessible locations in Export, PA, our services are designed to be quick, easy, and hassle-free for everyone involved.

This widespread availability ensures that individuals and companies can promptly find and utilize testing facilities, ensuring swift and efficient test processing.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair testing process in Export, PA is designed to be simple and confidential, ensuring ease of use and privacy from ordering to result delivery.

Addressing any privacy concerns, the straightforward nature of our testing services allows users to engage with confidence, knowing their information remains secure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid results, the hair follicle testing services in Export, PA provide exceptional value for businesses of any size.

This affordability combined with quick turnaround times ensures companies can monitor safety standards without strain on their resources, solidifying peace of mind across the board.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Export, PA stands out for its precision and swiftness. Its high accuracy is unmatched when it comes to detecting various substances, offering results that decision-makers can depend on.

A swift turnaround time guarantees that employers and agencies get reliable data quickly. This efficiency is crucial when timing is of the essence in decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Incorporating hair follicle testing in Export, PA aligns with compliance requirements for drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks and promoting a safer work environment.

By adhering to rigorous testing standards, employers can maintain peace of mind, knowing that they are contributing to a drug-free and safe workplace.

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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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