Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Greenfields, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now perceived as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When obtained close to the scalp, hair offers a detection window of up to about three months for identifying alcohol and drug use. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for testing and validation. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other kinds of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Summary

The laboratory analysis of a drug test encompasses four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial processing of a sample within a lab’s database. This step ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, generates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for common drugs. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient approach to rule out drug use in most cases, a positive result needs confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples testing presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further verification.

When a sample shows presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than with other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis a challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as appropriate. The laboratory process from Accessioning through to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug analysis:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Reduced likelihood of evasion: It is exceedingly difficult to circumvent a hair drug test, ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Provides usage history: It can delineate a pattern of substance use over time, beyond merely recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Price: Hair tests tend to be more costly compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Variability in outcomes: Aspects such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand—not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Greenfields, PA, the advantages of hair testing over traditional urine tests are profound. Hair follicle tests provide superior detection capabilities, capturing a comprehensive substance use profile. This method significantly outshines urinalysis by extending the detection window to up to 90 days, ensuring that any substance use doesn’t go unnoticed. Combining this extended period with high accuracy delivers reliability unachievable by urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, covering drug use over a significant period—up to 90 days. In Greenfields, PA, employers gain valuable insights into the substance use history of employees or applicants, supporting informed hiring and retention decisions. This method delivers critical data that a shorter detection urinalysis cannot, ensuring a complete overview of past drug use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests offers Greenfields, PA unmatchable protection against sample adulteration. Unlike traditional methods, hair testing minimizes fraudulent results, as it is difficult to alter or cheat. This reliability assures organizations and individuals that results are unquestionable, bolstering trust in drug testing processes by eliminating common complications found in other testing forms.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Greenfields, PA benefits from conveniently located nationwide testing centers, allowing for seamless access to necessary drug testing services. Our widespread network ensures readiness to meet testing demands with ease, removing any hurdles between clients and the testing they require. This accessibility guarantees a hassle-free experience, reducing barriers to testing and bolstering timely and efficient service.

Simple, Confidential Process

Offering a straightforward and confidential process, drug testing in Greenfields, PA ensures client privacy and simplicity in every step. From ordering to receiving results, the process is designed to be user-friendly and discreet, alleviating concerns regarding handling and sensitivity of information. This ensures confidence in both service and security, making the testing process both secure and easy to execute.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Greenfields, PA enjoys competitive pricing and fast turnaround times with our hair follicle drug testing services. We prioritize affordability and efficiency, delivering excellent value across all company sizes. Quick responses mean peace of mind, providing critical information without delay, and our cost-effective approach ensures that your needs are met within budget, fostering trust and satisfaction.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Greenfields, PA benefits from the fast and precise capabilities of hair follicle drug tests. Renowned for their accuracy, these tests deliver swift and reliable results, confirming substance use with precision. The efficacy of hair testing is unparalleled, providing prompt answers that empower individuals and organizations to make informed decisions quickly, ensuring confidence in the outcomes delivered.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Greenfields, PA achieve compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing, adhering to strict drug-free policies while reducing legal risks. This method enhances workplace safety by ensuring that policies are up-to-date and enforced, minimizing potential disruption or liability. It fosters a secure and efficient working environment, promoting a commitment to safety and responsibility.

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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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