Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lincolnville, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged historical record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can represent roughly a 90-day detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, additional tests and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It's recommended to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When speaking of head hair, this means scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The main four stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning deals with the initial processing of a sample into a lab's system. It involves verifying the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary quick analysis for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-effective means to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples presumptively positive during Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most complex methodologies to execute.

Verification of any positive screening result is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumptively positive are washed before confirmation if needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can track drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite difficult, thus enhancing result reliability.
• Supplies historical data: It can show a drug use pattern over time, not just a snapshot of recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: Drugs require roughly 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than alternative drug testing forms.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Lincolnville, PA stands as a great example why hair testing outweighs urine tests. Providing better accuracy and dependability, hair tests showcase enhanced detection capabilities compared to more conventional urine exams.

Extended Detection Window

The capacity of hair follicle testing in Lincolnville, PA, to capture drug consumption over a lengthy period (up to 90 days) offers employers an extensive review of a person's substance profile, invaluable for decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Lincolnville, PA drastically curtails the chances of adulteration. This tamper-proof method assures that the outcomes are both credible and indisputable.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our extensive network of nationwide testing centers, including those in Lincolnville, PA, secures fast, simple, and stress-free testing services accessible to everyone.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for ordering, undertaking, and receiving outcomes in Lincolnville, PA, is seamless and confidential, addressing privacy and ease-of-use concerns head-on, ensuring peace of mind throughout the procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround in Lincolnville, PA highlight the exceptional value we offer to companies of every size, providing peace of mind and cost-efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and quickness of hair follicle drug tests in Lincolnville, PA, are unparalleled. These tests are highly accurate at identifying substance use, delivering reliable results faster than traditional methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle tests in Lincolnville, PA, ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, shielding against legal liabilities and boosting the safety of the 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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