Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kirkwood, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has evolved into an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The fibers of a growing hair strand trap biomarkers, offering a prolonged record of alcohol and other substance use. Hair samples closest to the scalp can reveal drug and alcohol use for up to around 3 months. It’s straightforward to gather, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (resembling the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg, which is optimal for analysis and validation. For EtG add-ons or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. The sample should ideally be weighed using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be obtained. When discussing head hair, it refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test result in the laboratory includes four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial management of a specimen within a lab’s system. It requires verifying proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid test for substance abuse. Though a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive Screening requires confirmation to hold up in court. Any samples giving a presumptive positive result during Screening must undergo additional confirmation.

Presumptive positive samples from Screening see more hair extracted from the original sample for Extraction. In Extraction, substances are removed from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug analysis particularly challenging.

Confirmation of positive results in screenings is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned as required before confirmation. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection period.
• Hard to falsify: The results of a hair test are highly accurate due to the difficulty of cheating.
• Offers usage history: Capable of depicting a usage pattern over time, beyond just immediate consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot indicate recent use: Drugs only become traceable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually incur higher costs than alternative testing methods.
• Outcome variances: Attributes like hair color and personal growth rates can influence metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the strand, not the follicle under the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in Kirkwood, PA, with its extended detection capabilities. While urine tests are useful, hair testing offers unrivaled accuracy, reflecting substance use over a longer duration. Employers, courts, and treatment professionals increasingly favor hair testing for its reliability and the ability to detect up to 90 days of drug history, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use background.

Extended Detection Window

In Kirkwood, PA, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window, covering up to 90 days of substance use. This wide window allows employers to gain a thorough understanding of an employee or applicant's drug history. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests provide a detailed timeline of substance use, proving invaluable for organizations that prioritize a drug-free environment and require in-depth information on substance use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant solution for drug testing in Kirkwood, PA. The method significantly reduces the chance of sample adulteration, ensuring that results are reliable and legitimate. This feature is particularly crucial for companies and legal systems requiring impeccable accuracy and integrity in their drug testing procedures. Hair tests provide a secure and unquestionable method for verifying drug use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers nationwide, Accredited Drug Testing offers unparalleled convenience in Kirkwood, PA. Accessing drug testing services is swift and straightforward, with various locations ready to serve you. Whether locally in Kirkwood or elsewhere, our broad network of facilities ensures that testing is always within reach, providing easy access and removing the hassles typically associated with finding reliable testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Kirkwood, PA, the process of hair follicle testing is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, each step is designed to prioritize privacy and ease. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that the entire process is straightforward and respects the confidentiality of participants, ensuring that personal information and test results remain protected throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Kirkwood, PA, combines affordable pricing with rapid turnaround to deliver excellent value. Companies, regardless of size, can take advantage of competitive pricing structures, ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising on quality. Quick response times further add to the appeal, delivering timely results that align with cost-efficiency and result in peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Kirkwood, PA offers exceptional precision and speed in detecting substance abuse. With its advanced methods, it guarantees accurate results, vital for ensuring safety and compliance. The cutting-edge technology allows quick processing, providing peace of mind for employers and test takers alike. Whether for personal or professional needs, this method stands out for its reliability and efficiency.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Kirkwood, PA, can achieve peace of mind using hair follicle testing as a means to enforce compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces legal risks and enhances safety, ensuring policies are upheld stringently. The reliable detection and difficulty of manipulation give employers confidence that they maintain a secure work environment, minimizing potential legal and safety threats.

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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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