Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hershey, PA

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair is capable of capturing a long-term record of alcohol and drug usage by preserving biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft. When harvested close to the scalp, hair can offer up to an approximate 3-month time frame for alcohol and drug detection. Gathering hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or testing beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is recommended. It's advisable to measure the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and conducting any additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary swift test for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to clear drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to stand up in court. Any samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further verification.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, extra hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are drawn from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence hair drug screening is the most challenging technique to execute.

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

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can ascertain drug usage for as long as 90 days, contrasted with urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Cheating is highly improbable: It is notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, thus increasing the accuracy of results.
• Delivers historical data: It can reveal a pattern of drug consumption over a period rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically costlier compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Diversity in outcomes: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test itself evaluates the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Hershey, PA surpasses traditional urine methods, offering superior detection accuracy. With the ability to unearth drug usage over 90 days, it furnishes a more reliable review of an individual's drug history.

Employers in Hershey benefit significantly from hair testing, ensuring stringent zero-tolerance policies. Unlike urine tests, hair testing resists manipulation, enhancing reliability in detecting substances.

Extended Detection Window

In Hershey, PA, hair follicle testing shines with its extensive detection window, capturing drug use up to 90 days prior. This capability provides employers a broader understanding of an individual's substance use history.

Employers seeking a thorough evaluation of potential hires or current employees rely on hair testing's long detection period, offering comprehensive insights into behavioral patterns and adherence to drug policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Hershey, PA, are an effective strategy against sample tampering. With their unique detection method, they minimize the risk of adulteration, delivering reliable outcomes that are hard to dispute.

Employers opting for this testing method ensure the integrity of drug test results, as hair samples are resistant to common manipulation tactics, securing authentic and trustworthy findings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing network, including Hershey, PA, offers unmatched convenience, simplifying the testing process with easily accessible locations. Clients gain hassle-free access to our comprehensive services.

With local and nationwide centers, scheduling a test becomes a straightforward affair, guaranteeing swift and flexible arrangements to meet all drug testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hershey, PA, we provide a straightforward and discreet process for hair follicle tests. From ordering to receiving results, confidentiality and ease are prioritized, addressing any privacy concerns.

Our service ensures a simple yet comprehensive approach, guiding clients through each step effortlessly, thus reinforcing trust and satisfaction with our testing procedures.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing in Hershey, PA, our hair follicle tests are both economical and quick. Businesses of all sizes benefit from the exceptional value and swift turnaround we deliver.

Affordable solutions accompanied by rapid results, ensure that cost-efficiency does not compromise the quality of our testing services, providing peace of mind to all clients.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Hershey, PA, hair follicle drug tests deliver precision and speed, standing out for their unmatched detection accuracy. The method's high reliability makes it ideal for promptly verifying substance use.

Combining speed and accuracy, these tests offer comprehensive results efficiently, reinforcing trust in the screening process. In Hershey, accuracy in detection ensures quick identification of substances, vital for critical decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle tests in Hershey, PA, assures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. Employers reduce legal risks, fostering a secure environment by implementing rigorous testing procedures.

The confidence gained from reliable drug testing methods bolsters peace of mind, ensuring that workplace safety and policy adherence are prioritized, strengthening overall company integrity.

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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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