Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Greeley, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair tests have emerged as a potent mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows, hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug use history. Hair clipped near the scalp can reveal substance use for up to roughly 90 days. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides about 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is recommended. It is advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent volume of body hair may be collected. Reference to head hair pertains exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning constitutes the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This step involves checking that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. While being an economical approach to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screening requires subsequent confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening need further verification.

A presumptive positive in the Screening phase warrants extracting more hair from the initial sample for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are leeched from hair at a notably lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which highlights why hair testing is the most intricate methodology to execute.

Verification of any positive Screening result is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Any samples that register as presumptively positive are cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated in line with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair accreditation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, in contrast with urine tests that possess a shorter detection interval.
• Resistance to manipulation: Altering a hair drug test is exceptionally challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Historical consumption data: It illustrates a drug usage pattern over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically incurs higher costs compared to other testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly dubbed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Greeley, PA, hair follicle testing proves superior to standard urine tests in many ways. Hair tests provide enhanced detection accuracy and reliability, covering a wider detection period.

• Longer detection window
• Difficult to cheat

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Greeley, PA is unmatched, effectively identifying substance use over a 90-day period. Employers can utilize this to gain comprehensive insights into an individual’s history. This long assessment window is crucial for making informed decisions about hiring or monitoring employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Greeley, PA offers a tamper-resistant method, significantly lowering the chances of sample adulteration. Reliable and robust, the testing process stands strong against tampering attempts, providing assurance that the results are genuine and trustworthy, an essential feature for accurate substance use evaluation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient local and nationwide testing locations, 27 locations in Greeley, PA ensure stress-free access to drug testing services. Accredited Drug Testing provides testing centers across the nation, making it easy for individuals to find accessible and hassle-free testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process is simple and confidential in Greeley, PA. Ordering, taking, and receiving results from hair follicle tests are all streamlined to address privacy concerns. Ease of use is a priority, guaranteeing you a seamless experience while keeping user confidentiality paramount.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround, hair follicle testing in Greeley, PA ensures excellent value for employers of all sizes. Quick results paired with competitive rates meet the needs of businesses looking for cost-effective drug screening options without compromising on quality or reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Providing fast, accurate, and reliable results, hair follicle drug testing in Greeley, PA guarantees high precision in substance detection. The advanced testing process ensures reliable outcomes with quick turnaround times. Accuracy and speed make hair tests stand out as an efficient choice, offering confidence in results while maintaining stringent standards.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Greeley, PA find peace of mind through hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free policies. The reliable results help reduce legal liabilities and enhance safety in the workplace. Compliance with industry standards provides security for businesses committed to a 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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