Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hawthorn, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's growing fibers. When hair is collected near the scalp, it allows for a detection period of up to about 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's size) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirming results. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't obtainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, and so on).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a specimen into a lab’s system. This process confirms the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment to check for drug misuse. Although Screening efficiently rules out drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be admissible in legal settings. Any samples that are tentatively positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is tentatively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentatively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if required. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug screenings can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is very difficult, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Historical insight: It offers a timeline of drug usage over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Roughly 5-7 days are needed for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Variability in results: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Advantages of Hair Testing Over Urine Testing in Hawthorn, PA
Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing provides superior detection accuracy and reliability. This method's extensive window gives employers a better understanding of an individual's drug use history. Thus, in Hawthorn, PA, hair testing proves more effective for thorough and dependable drug analysis.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Hawthorn, PA
Unlike other tests, hair follicle analysis can detect drug use up to 90 days, offering a broad view of substance history. This long detection window equips employers in Hawthorn, PA, with crucial data to evaluate an applicant or employee’s past behavior, aiding thorough risk assessment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Tamper-Resistant Testing in Hawthorn, PA
Hair follicle tests have a noteworthy advantage in mitigating sample tampering. This method significantly reduces risks of adulteration, ensuring consistent and unambiguous outcomes. For Hawthorn, PA employers, this reliability is critical in maintaining confidence in their test results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Anywhere, Including Hawthorn, PA
With numerous nationwide testing centers, including local sites in Hawthorn, PA, accessing hair follicle testing is simple and swift. Our services ensure ease and efficiency, providing hassle-free testing solutions for everyone, regardless of their location across the country.

Simple, Confidential Process

Effortless and Confidential Testing in Hawthorn, PA
The process for ordering, completing, and receiving results from a hair follicle test is straightforward and private. Residents in Hawthorn, PA benefit from a system designed to protect privacy while offering a seamless testing experience, ensuring comfort and confidentiality at every step.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing and Quick Results in Hawthorn, PA
Our competitive pricing and expedited service deliver exceptional value across all business sizes. Companies in Hawthorn, PA, benefit from affordable options and a rapid turnaround, enhancing satisfaction while ensuring stringent drug testing standards are met.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Unmatched Accuracy in Hawthorn, PA
The precision and quick turnaround of hair follicle drug tests make them stand out. This method provides high accuracy, swiftly identifying substance use, ensuring reliable results. In Hawthorn, PA, professionals rely on this advanced technology to make informed decisions, thanks to its dependable and rapid results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Employer Assurance in Hawthorn, PA
Using hair follicle testing helps employers uphold drug-free policies, minimizing legal liabilities and bolstering workplace safety. This approach in Hawthorn, PA, affords peace of mind, ensuring that employers abide by compliance standards and maintain a safe work 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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