Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kutztown, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a highly effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The strands of hair capture biomarkers within their fibers, providing a comprehensive record of substance use over time. When harvested near the scalp, these samples deliver a detection timeframe of up to three months for alcohol and various drugs. The collection of hair samples is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and can be conveniently transported.

An ideal sample comprises a 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in thickness) nearest to the scalp, weighing around 100mg for accurate screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, add-ons, or screenings surpassing ten panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. Reference to head hair specifies scalp hair solely, while body hair denotes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The process for lab-based drug test evaluation includes the key stages of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves introducing the sample into the lab workflow, ensuring it was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and finalizing any extra data entry absent from the electronic custody documentation.

Screening serves as an initial, economical assessment for identifying substance use. While effective for most samples, only confirmed positive screenings hold up in legal scenarios. Hence, any potentially positive screens necessitate further confirmation.

If Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is taken from the sample for the Extraction phase. Here, substances are extracted from hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or saliva), underscoring the complexity of hair drug analysis.

Positive Screening outcomes undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS, with samples being washed beforehand as needed. Each stage, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is meticulously reviewed according to the CAP's (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and aligned with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: capable of identifying drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: the test's design makes cheating practically impossible, leading to more reliable results.
• Insights into past usage: charts a history of substance use beyond just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: Drugs are traceable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug screenings generally incur higher costs compared to alternative testing approaches.
• Result variability: Influences such as hair pigmentation and individual hair growth rates can alter the presence of drug metabolites in hair strands.

Note: Referred to as "hair follicle tests", analysis targets the hair strand itself, rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why choose hair follicle testing over urine testing in Kutztown, PA? Hair tests offer greater detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, which detect recent drug use, hair tests provide an expansive view of an individual's substance history. The superior detection window grants employers in Kutztown a detailed assessment, making hair follicle testing an invaluable tool.

Extended Detection Window

In Kutztown, PA, hair follicle testing stands out due to its extended detection window. Capable of identifying drug use over a period of up to 90 days, this method offers a thorough examination of an individual's substance history. For employers, it provides a deeper insight into an applicant's or employee's drug use, ensuring more informed hiring and monitoring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Kutztown, PA, boasts a reliable tamper-resistant method with hair follicle testing. Unlike other testing procedures, hair tests substantially reduce the risk of adulteration. The method involves a secure sample collection process, making it nearly impossible to alter. This leads to trustworthy outcomes, providing a more accurate representation of an individual's drug usage.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Kutztown, PA, enjoys the convenience of numerous nationwide testing locations. Our centers, easily accessible, allow for quick and straightforward drug testing processes. This eliminates the hassle often associated with getting tested, ensuring a smooth experience for individuals and companies alike. Local availability provides added ease for those seeking testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

For residents of Kutztown, PA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. The steps from ordering, undergoing the test, to receiving results are designed to be straightforward, ensuring privacy and ease-of-use. This efficient process addresses privacy concerns, making it a favored option for many seeking secure drug testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Kutztown, PA, we offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing. Our competitive pricing structures ensure that businesses of varying sizes can access excellent value. Quick result delivery is an added benefit, providing peace of mind and helping companies maintain efficient operational standards.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Kutztown, PA, hair follicle drug testing is known for its speed and accuracy. The method provides trustworthy outcomes when assessing substance use, ensuring precise detection. By opting for hair testing, individuals and employers are assured of timely and reliable results, offering an advantage over other testing methods. The accuracy of these tests makes them a preferred choice in maintaining safe environments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Kutztown, PA, hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind. Adopting this method helps maintain drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal liabilities. By implementing hair testing, companies can enhance workplace safety and ensure they meet the required regulations, allowing for a more secure work environment.

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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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