Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Geigertown, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug exposure by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. Collecting hair near the scalp can yield up to a roughly 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is easy, harder to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair segment consisting of around 200 strands (akin to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG additions and/or testing over 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used instead. When mentioning head hair, it specifically denotes scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The process in a laboratory for obtaining a drug test result includes Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial entry of a sample into a lab’s system. It includes ensuring the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling out any extra data that an electronic chain of custody system doesn't cover.

Screening is an initial, swift test for drug usage. Though Screening is cost-effective for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive result must be verified to be valid in court. Any samples with a positive screening result need a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests positive in Screening, additional hair from the initial sample is prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are removed from the hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing one of the most challenging methodologies.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are used to confirm any positive screening result. All samples with a positive indication are thoroughly cleaned before confirmation, when necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection time: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection duration.
• Difficult to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, leading to more reliable results.
• Delivers historical insight: This method can reveal a pattern of drug usage over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify immediate use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to show up in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While the term "hair follicle tests" is commonly used, the analysis is done on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair Testing trumps Urine Testing in Geigertown, PA by presenting unmatched detection precision and reliability. While traditional urine tests are standard, the superiority of hair tests lies in their capacity to detect drug use more effectively.

With extended detection periods, hair tests provide a more comprehensive picture, proving invaluable for employers in search of disclosure and accuracy compared to conventional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

In Geigertown, PA, hair follicle testing is renowned for its ability to identify substance use up to 90 days prior. This extended detection window provides employers with a detailed view of an individual’s drug history.

By offering a longer detection period, hair tests become an indispensable tool for understanding an applicant or employee's past substance usage, thereby allowing informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Geigertown, PA, significantly reduces risks associated with sample tampering, delivering results that are reliable and beyond question. Unlike other testing forms, hair tests are resistant to adulteration.

This robust testing method ensures that samples remain untampered, giving employers the confidence in their drug screening processes by providing untainted results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers across the nation, including Geigertown, PA, accessing hair follicle drug testing services is straightforward and convenient. Our widespread presence ensures quick and easy testing procedures.

Whether local or national, our locations are strategically situated to facilitate seamless testing experiences for clients, removing unnecessary hassles in obtaining essential drug screening services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Geigertown is designed to be straightforward and private. From ordering to obtaining results, each step is conducted with confidentiality and user-friendliness in mind.

Our simple methodology ensures participants can complete the testing with ease, maintaining privacy and ensuring they receive results without any complications.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Geigertown, PA, our hair follicle drug testing offers competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, providing excellent value to businesses of all sizes. This enables organizations to manage costs effectively while receiving fast results.

Our affordable and fast services ensure that companies maintain their workforce's safety and compliance without breaking the budget, offering peace of mind and sound investment returns.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Geigertown, PA, offer impressive precision and swiftness. Their high accuracy ensures reliable detection of substance use, giving a clear picture of drug history. This method allows for fast, impeccable results, outperforming other testing types in the area.

The effectiveness of hair tests lies in their ability to provide quick results without compromising accuracy. This efficiency enables both employers and individuals to obtain dependable outcomes promptly in Geigertown and beyond.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Geigertown secures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, providing peace of mind for employers. It minimizes legal risks and boosts overall workplace safety.

This testing method reinforces a company's commitment to safety and legal compliance, reducing potential liabilities by ensuring a genuinely drug-free environment.

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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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