Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Freeland, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective instrument for the detection of drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves to capture a long-term history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can present up to roughly a 3-month assessment time frame for alcohol and other drugs. It is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to adulterate, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or evaluations surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise measuring the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable volume of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair indicates all other hair kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Four principal stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial entry of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process verifies the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data input not offered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening provides a cost-efficient way to eliminate drug use in most samples, any positive screen must be substantiated for court admissibility. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening require subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration in contrast to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.

Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All samples with presumptive positives are washed before confirmation, if necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Challenging to tamper: It is very challenging to tamper with a hair drug test, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a drug use pattern over an extended timeframe, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While often termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is of the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Freeland, PA, hair follicle tests outperform traditional urine tests by providing superior detection accuracy and reliability. Extended detection periods of up to 90 days allow for a more comprehensive view of substance use history.

While urine tests offer brief detection windows, hair testing provides extensive substance tracking, conferring significant advantages.

• Better detection span
• Less tampering risk
• Observed sample collection

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Freeland, PA, is renowned for its ability to uncover drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days. This capability grants employers deeper insights into the substance habits of applicants or employees.

The lengthy detection window presents a comprehensive perspective on drug use, helping maintain workplace integrity. Employers benefit from a thorough understanding of an individual's past substance interactions.

• 90-day detection
• Extensive historical insight

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Freeland, PA, hair follicle testing's tamper-resistant nature lies in its ability to limit sample adulteration, making it more trustworthy than urine tests. This methodology reduces cheating risks, crucial for authentic drug testing outcomes.

Hair samples are collected in a controlled environment, ensuring their integrity and validity. The test's reliability bolsters its standing.

• Minimized adulteration
• Secure sample collection

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Freeland, PA boasts convenient testing centers, part of a nationwide network ensuring accessible and hassle-free testing services for all. Convenience and accessibility are priorities, with ample local options available.

Quick, seamless access supports the smooth progression of the testing process, from start to finish. The widespread presence facilitates efficient services.

• Accessible nationwide
• Local centers

Simple, Confidential Process

In Freeland, PA, the hair follicle testing process is crafted to be both simple and confidential, addressing concerns about privacy and ease of access. Effortless ordering and taking of tests define the experience.

Results are provided in a discreet manner, ensuring personal information remains protected, fostering trust and confidence. The process prioritizes privacy throughout.

• Confidential results
• User-friendly process

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Freeland, PA offers hair follicle testing with affordable pricing and quick turnaround, appealing to businesses of all sizes seeking value and peace of mind. Competitive pricing structures make it a cost-effective solution.

Clients benefit from reliability and efficiency, distinguishing the service as a leading choice for economical and prompt drug testing needs.

• Fast turnaround
• Value for money

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug testing in Freeland, PA, make it an outstanding choice for accurate substance detection. Hair tests offer unparalleled accuracy in identifying drug usage, as they efficiently capture evidence of drug exposure.

The highly reliable results enable organizations and individuals to make informed choices based on dependable data. Fast results ensure that substance use concerns are addressed promptly, beneficial in various settings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Freeland, PA, can attain compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing, which enhances adherence to drug-free workplace policies. Legal risks are reduced, while workplace safety is fortified.

Employing hair testing eliminates doubts about sample manipulation, protecting both employers and employees. The method also aligns with regulations.

• Policy compliance
• Safer 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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