Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Glendon, PA

What it is, How it works

Recognized as a potent mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption, hair testing reveals long-lasting insights by incorporating biomarkers within the structure of developing hair strands. When extracted near the scalp, hair offers an approximate three-month detection timeline for substances. This method of collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.

For optimal screening and verification, a 1.5-inch section comprising approximately 200 hairs (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) extracted nearest the scalp is ideal, providing 100mg of hair. If conducting EtG or expanded panel testing beyond ten panels, 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a proportional amount of body hair could be utilized. Our reference to head hair pertains solely to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all alternative types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Laboratory procedure for processing drug tests encompasses four principal phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves integrating a sample into a laboratory’s framework through initial processing. This encompasses ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any other data entry not integrated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid evaluation for substances. Although Screening offers an economical strategy to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal acceptability. Presumptive positives require secondary verification.

Upon suspecting positivity during Screening, additional hair is sourced from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. This stage segregates drugs from hair at markedly lower concentrations than other approaches (urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS is undertaken for any confirmed positive results. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positives are cleansed as needed. The entire lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Unlike urine tests, which offer a shorter window, hair drug tests can identify drug usage up to 90 days post-consumption.
• Minimized manipulation risk: The challenge in deceiving hair drug tests enhances result authenticity.
• Reveals historical trends: This method delineates patterns of consumption over time rather than indicating only recent use.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection onset: Drugs become traceable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur greater costs compared to alternative testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth variations may alter drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the focus is exclusively on analysis of the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle tests with traditional urine analyses reveals stark benefits in favor of the former. A notable advantage is the superior detection accuracy provided by hair testing, ensuring reliability in Glendon, PA.

While urine tests are commonplace, hair tests boast a longer detection window, offering a broader picture of an individual's drug usage pattern, proving invaluable for both employers and legal entities.

Extended Detection Window

With the ability to detect drug use over a span of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Glendon, PA, provides a comprehensive view of an individual's history. This extended window is critical for employers making informed decisions.

The long detection period of hair tests makes them a valuable tool for employers and organizations seeking thorough and long-term insights into substance usage.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests significantly curb the risk of tampering and sample adulteration. This method ensures reliable, unquestionable results in Glendon, PA, fostering trust in testing outcomes.

The integrity of hair tests eliminates concerns about sample manipulation, providing a dependable testing alternative that maintains the credibility of results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide presence, including local centers in Glendon, PA, ensures convenient, accessible testing solutions. Clients benefit from straightforward, hassle-free access to our comprehensive testing services.

The vast network of testing centers guarantees that individuals and organizations can easily find nearby facilities, streamlining the testing process significantly.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of arranging, executing, and receiving hair follicle test results in Glendon, PA, is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns efficiently and ensuring ease of use for all involved parties.

Our simple, private testing procedures ensure that client concerns about privacy and ease are adequately addressed throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing structures in Glendon, PA, combined with fast result turnaround times, offer exceptional value to businesses of all sizes. This approach ensures affordability without compromising on quality.

Businesses benefit from our cost-effective and rapid service, enhancing both value and peace of mind, important factors in choosing a testing service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Glendon, PA, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their swift and dependable results. They deliver precise insights into substance use, ensuring both accuracy and reliability, which is crucial for employers and authorities alike.

These tests not only offer rapid results but also maintain a high level of precision, making them an excellent choice for those seeking accurate detection of substance abuse.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Glendon, PA, gain peace of mind and enhanced compliance with workplace drug policies using hair follicle testing. It minimizes legal risks and promotes a safer work environment by ensuring a drug-free workplace.

Implementing hair testing aligns with drug-free policies, reducing potential legal issues and fostering a secure and compliant workplace culture.

Drug Testing Near Glendon, PA

Bushkill, PA

Northampton, PA

Bethlehem, PA

Eastlawn Gardens, PA

Nazareth, PA

Freemansburg, PA

Stockertown, PA

Riegelsville, PA

Tatamy, PA

Raubsville, PA

Palmer Heights, PA

Easton, PA

Old Orchard, PA

Wilson, PA

West Easton, PA

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews