Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Highspire, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has grown to be perceived as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures an extended timeline of alcohol and drug usage by trapping biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can provide up to about a 90-day detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easily shippable.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 strands of hair (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is suggested to gather 150mg of hair. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not obtainable, an equal amount of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we reference only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four key stages in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the primary processing of a sample into a lab's system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any further data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a rapid preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screening outcome requires confirmation to be valid in legal proceedings. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening will necessitate subsequent confirmation.

If a sample exhibits a presumptive positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, substances are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are presumptively positive undergo a washing process before confirmation, if required. The laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug testing can reveal drug use up to 90 days, compared to urine tests, which have a more limited detection duration.
• Hard to circumvent: It is extremely difficult to evade a hair drug test, making the results more reliable.
• Offers historical insight: It can indicate a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Aspects such as hair color and individual rates of hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Highspire, PA, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis extends the detection window to 90 days, providing a more thorough assessment of substance use and a stronger basis for informed judgments.

The benefits of hair testing include a reduced risk of tampering and higher dependability in results, which contribute to trust in the process. This ensures that employers have a more accurate tool for maintaining their drug-free workplace policies.

Extended Detection Window

Highspire, PA leverages hair follicle testing to detect drug use over a significant timeframe, extending observation up to 90 days. This extended detection window grants employers greater insights into an individual's substance use history.

Over a 90-day period, hair testing delivers an in-depth overview, surpassing brief detection times associated with urine tests. Companies benefit from comprehensive and reliable information integral to maintaining safe, compliant work environments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Highspire, PA stands out as a tamper-resistant method. This approach significantly minimizes the potential for sample adulteration, delivering reliable and unquestionable outcomes.

By reducing the likelihood of interference, hair tests offer a trustworthy solution for employers and institutions, who can confidently rely on these results to inform decisions without concern for compromised samples.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Highspire, PA residents benefit from the convenience of Accredited Drug Testing’s many nationwide centers. Swift, trouble-free access to testing services ensures efficiency and ease for individuals and businesses.

Whether local or across the country, our centers provide a seamless solution for all testing requirements, enabling quick and straightforward appointments to meet a variety of needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing in Highspire, PA provides a simple, confidential process for ordering, conducting, and receiving test results. This attention to privacy and ease ensures client comfort and trust.

The process is streamlined to afford users peace of mind, emphasizing confidentiality from sample collection to result dissemination and assuring that sensitive information remains protected throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Highspire, PA, hair follicle drug testing offers competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, ensuring excellent value for companies of all sizes. Our service aligns with industry standards while prioritizing cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

Organizations benefit from reduced testing expenditures and rapid result delivery, empowering timely decisions and budget-conscious policies that do not compromise on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and speed set hair follicle drug tests apart in Highspire, PA. These evaluations boast impressive accuracy in identifying substances, showcasing their reliability over traditional methods. Employers seeking swift, reliable outcomes trust this approach for its thoroughness and timeliness in reporting results.

With a focus on accurate detection, hair tests provide dependable analysis for recent and long-term drug use. Quick processing times enhance their appeal, supporting effective decision-making for workplace safety and compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Highspire, PA, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug policies while offering peace of mind for employers. This method reduces legal risks and enhances safety by providing comprehensive and reliable results.

Employers can be confident in sustaining a compliant, drug-free environment due to the high accuracy and extended detection window offered by hair tests. These advantages fortify workplace safety and mitigate potential liabilities.

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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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