Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hunterstown, PA

What it is, How it works

Viewing hair testing as a robust method to uncover drug and alcohol consumption has increased. Hair archives a long-term profile of alcohol and drug presence by capturing biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers. When collected near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to collect, difficult to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair sample comprising around 200 strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or panels over 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair is permissible. Discussions about head hair pertain exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

There are four pivotal phases during laboratory processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab system. This process verifies the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addresses any extra data entry not submitted by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screening outcome must be verified to be valid legally. Any samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening require secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. This phase sees drugs extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine, or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening represents one of the most complex methodologies.

Confirming a positive screening result involves using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive undergo a wash before confirmation when necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes a review subject to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments identify substance use for up to 90 days, contrary to urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Hard to compromise: Cheating a hair drug assessment is extremely challenging, leading to more reliable outcomes.
• Yields historical data: Offers a usage pattern over time, beyond recent use.

Constraints:

• Incapable of spotting recent use: Drugs take approximately 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments tend to be pricier relative to other testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth deviations impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hunterstown, PA, hair follicle testing emerges as a superior alternative to urine tests for detecting substance use. Unlike urine tests, hair analyzes a longer window, offering a more thorough history of usage up to 90 days. Employers benefit from its high reliability, ensuring adherence to zero-tolerance policies with failsafe accuracy.

Extended Detection Window

In Hunterstown, PA, hair follicle testing offers an unparalleled detection window, revealing drug use history up to 90 days. This extended time frame enables employers to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of an applicant's or employee's substance history, facilitating informed hiring and workforce management.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method employed in Hunterstown, PA, is highly tamper-resistant. By significantly minimizing the risk of sample adulteration, it provides reliable, unquestionable results that give employers peace of mind and certainty when assessing substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With locations nationwide and in Hunterstown, PA, our testing centers offer convenient access for all testing needs. Our local and widespread facilities allow rapid and effortless testing processes, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum efficiency for clients seeking reliable results.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hunterstown, PA, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving the results, users experience a seamless and private process, addressing any privacy concerns while ensuring an easy testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hunterstown, PA, benefits from our competitive pricing and quick turnaround times. Our hair follicle testing services provide exceptional value, allowing companies of all sizes to conduct thorough drug assessments without incurring excessive costs, ensuring peace of mind and efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

For those in Hunterstown, PA, needing fast, accurate detection of substance use, hair follicle testing stands out. Its efficiency in delivering precise results makes it a favored choice among employers and individuals. The ability to capture an extensive usage history swiftly enhances decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring compliance with workplace drug policies in Hunterstown, PA, is seamless with hair follicle testing. It not only helps mitigate legal risks but also promotes a safer, drug-free work environment, allowing employers to maintain regulatory adherence and foster peace of mind among their workforce.

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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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