Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Jacobus, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is regarded as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair provides an extended timeline of alcohol and drug use, encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When collected nearby the scalp, hair can indicate substance use over a span of around three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat challenging to alter, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil), taken nearest to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, which is an optimal amount for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG tests, additional tests, or panels exceeding ten, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. We suggest assessing the specimen's mass using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, a comparable quantity of body hair can be collected. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (such as facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The four primary procedures in laboratory processing to obtain a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory's database. This involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any data entries not completed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid examination for the presence of drugs. Although Screening is an economical method to rule out drug usage for most samples, confirmation is required for a positive result to be valid in court. Samples that show presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample be preliminarily positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from the hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluids), which makes hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening results is performed with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that are presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation, as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have shorter detection periods.
• Deters cheating: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: Provides an overview of drug consumption patterns over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When analyzing drug use in Jacobus, PA, hair follicle tests stand out against traditional urine tests. The superiority of hair testing lies in its increased accuracy and reliability. Hair tests detect drug use over a more extended period compared to urine tests, offering a greater detection window and more robust results, ensuring no recent drug use goes unnoticed.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Jacobus, PA, captures drug use history up to 90 days prior, providing a comprehensive outlook on an individual's substance use. This extended detection window is crucial for employers seeking to screen applicants or employees thoroughly, ensuring a safer workplace and informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Jacobus, PA, hair follicle testing minimizes the risks of sample tampering. With this highly secure method, the likelihood of adulteration is greatly reduced, ensuring the integrity of results. This tamper-resistant approach gives employers and testers confidence in the validity of the drug testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key with our nationwide and local testing centers in and around Jacobus, PA. Our easily accessible locations make drug testing quick and hassle-free. Whether seeking local service or broader coverage, our centers guarantee efficient and straightforward access to necessary tests.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Jacobus, PA, for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. With ease and privacy, clients can order, undergo testing, and receive results securely, addressing privacy concerns effectively and ensuring a smooth experience from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Jacobus, PA, our hair follicle testing services are competitively priced, with rapid turnaround times. Offering excellent value to companies of all sizes, we ensure peace of mind with affordable testing options that do not compromise on speed or accuracy, making us the ideal choice for any organization.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Jacobus, PA, hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched speed and precision. These tests provide high accuracy in detecting substance use, ensuring fast and dependable results. Their ability to quickly and accurately identify drug use makes them a preferred method for employers and legal entities alike, granting a high level of confidence in the results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Jacobus, PA, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By minimizing legal risks and enhancing safety, this method supports a secure and law-abiding work environment, promoting the well-being of the workforce and the organization as a whole.

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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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