Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gardners, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extensive timeline of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the follicles of the hair as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair samples can reflect alcohol and drug intake for nearly a 3-month period. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in width) near the scalp provides 100mg, which is the preferred quantity for tests and verification. For EtG add-ons or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferred. It's advisable to weigh this using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent portion of body hair can be used. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all hair types like facial and axillary.

Process Overview

There are four central phases in the laboratory handling of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning incorporates the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's system, ensuring the sample was securely sealed and correctly transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Though it's a budget-friendly way to eliminate drug presence in most samples, any positive Screening must be validated for courtroom suitability. Samples with preliminary positive Screening need further authentication.

When a sample tests preliminary positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the primary sample for Extraction. This phase involves pulling drugs from hair, which is more challenging compared to other testing methods such as urine or oral fluid; hence, hair drug analysis requires advanced proficiency.

Verification of any positive Screening outcome occurs via techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples undergo cleaning before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes evaluation according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair inspection and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug evaluations can trace drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a briefer detection span.
• Cheat-proof nature: Hair drug tests are challenging to manipulate, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Captures usage history: It reveals drug consumption patterns over time rather than recent instances.

Limitations:

• Inability to trace recent intake: Drugs typically become noticeable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug evaluations tend to be pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Inconsistency in results: Elements like hair hue and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand itself, not the scalp-embedded hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Gardners, PA

When comparing hair follicle to urine tests, the former offers an extended detection window, up to 90 days. Urine tests only catch recent substance use.

• Benefits: Hair tests are near cheat-proof, with each strand offering a mini-history of drug intake.
• Key Difference: Hair testing is less vulnerable to tampering compared to urine samples.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Gardners, PA, boasts an extended detection window that spans up to 90 days. This prolonged timeframe enables employers to assess a more comprehensive history of an individual's substance use. With a longer detection span, decisions based on drug testing can be made with greater confidence, offering a clearer perspective on an employee's or applicant's past behavior.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Gardners, PA, hair follicle tests are lauded for their tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other drug screening methods, these tests are less prone to alteration. Hair cannot be substituted or adulterated with the same ease as urine samples, ensuring that the results are both reliable and trustworthy.

• Lower risk of contamination
• Assurance of genuine results

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing options, both locally in Gardners, PA, and across the Nation. Our extensive network of testing centers guarantees that clients can find a location nearby, streamlining the hassle-free testing process.

• Accessible test locations
• Ease of scheduling

Simple, Confidential Process

At Accredited Drug Testing in Gardners, PA, we ensure a process that is simple and respects confidentiality. Ordering, taking, and receiving test results is straightforward and protects privacy at every step. We prioritize user-friendliness and ensure you can be confident in your results while maintaining strict compliance with data protection standards. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your privacy is safeguarded.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

For businesses operating in Gardners, PA, our drug testing services are characterized by affordable pricing and swift turnaround times. Companies of all scales can benefit from our competitive rates and efficient services. Coupled with accurate results, our offerings provide excellent value. You can trust us to keep your operations running smoothly without breaking the budget.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision of hair follicle drug tests in Gardners, PA, stands unmatched. This method captures a comprehensive snapshot of substance use, offering highly precise results. Accuracy in early detection ensures that the chances of overlooking substance abuse are slim. These tests are not only fast but also reliable, making them the preferred choice for employers and professionals seeking trustworthy information about drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Gardners, PA, gain invaluable compliance with drug-free policies through the use of hair follicle testing. Adopting these tests fosters peace of mind by adhering to legal regulations and enhancing safety in the workplace.

• Firmer policy enforcement
• Reduced legal liabilities

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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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