Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hickory, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly viewed as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a chronic record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When cut close to the scalp, hair samples can reveal drug and alcohol presence for up to approximately three months. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and transportation is easy.

Taking a 1.5-inch segment of around 200 strands of hair (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, collecting 150mg of the sample is preferable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for precise weighing is advised. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. When referencing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is integrated into a lab's system. This step involves ensuring the sample is correctly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any missing data in the absence of an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary scan for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective method for ruling out drug use in most samples, confirmations are necessary for results to be court-recognized. Any samples that are provisionally positive during Screening require an additional confirmation step.

For samples that are provisionally positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair in concentrations lower than those possible through other means (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a complex procedure to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is managed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples indicated as presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation if required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can indicate drug use up to 90 days, while urine tests have a limited detection scope.
• Difficult to falsify: Hair drug tests are tough to tamper with, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals patterns of substance use over time, not just short-term use.

Limitations:

• Inability to discern recent use: Detection in hair takes about 5-7 days following drug intake.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than alternative drug test techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", these tests evaluate the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Hickory, PA
In comparison to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing presents a more robust and accurate detection method. While urine tests might miss recent or infrequent usage, hair tests offer superior reliability by capturing a history of drug use over several months, providing a more comprehensive view of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Hickory, PA
Hair follicle testing stands out with its extended detection period, capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior. This longer window provides employers a thorough understanding of an employee’s or applicant’s drug use history, facilitating better decision-making for hiring or workplace safety policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Hickory, PA
One of the key advantages of hair follicle drug testing is its resilience to tampering. The method greatly mitigates risks associated with sample adulteration, ensuring reliable, unquestionable results. This offers peace of mind for businesses and legal bodies concerned about the integrity of drug test results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Hickory, PA
Our nationwide network of testing centers makes drug testing accessible and convenient. Whether you're in Hickory or beyond, easy access to hair testing services is always close by, ensuring quick and hassle-free testing procedures for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Hickory, PA
The process of ordering and receiving hair follicle testing results is designed to be straightforward and confidential. Clients can have confidence in the privacy of their results, benefiting from a streamlined process that emphasizes user ease and data security.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Hickory, PA
Our competitive pricing structure makes hair follicle testing an affordable option for businesses of any size, accompanied by fast turnaround times. This combination ensures that companies get both value and peace of mind when choosing our testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Hickory, PA
Hair follicle drug testing offers a swift and precise means of detecting substance use. This method's accuracy ensures that results are not only quick but also dependable, providing clear insights into an individual's drug use history. When it comes to needing accurate drug testing results with fast turnaround times, hair testing is an excellent choice.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Hickory, PA
Adopting hair follicle testing can ensure workplaces maintain compliance with drug-free policies. This approach not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances the overall safety of the working environment. Employers can rest assured knowing they are upholding a safe and compliant workplace.

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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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