Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Loag, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair screening is recognized as a vital method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair in growth. When sourced near the scalp, hair offers nearly a 3-month period for detecting alcohol and other substances. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and containing roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the perfect size for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weighing 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to measure the specimen. In cases where scalp hair is not present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we specifically indicate scalp hair. All other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.) are referred to as body hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the primary processing of a sample within a laboratory's system. This process includes checking that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial, rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical approach to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that yield a presumptive positive during Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample is deemed presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for the Extraction stage. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most complex methodology.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation through methods such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptive positive are washed before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection span.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is notably difficult to manipulate a hair drug test, ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Reveals historical patterns: It can display a timeline of drug consumption over an extended period, rather than recent use only.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent usage: It takes roughly 5-7 days for substances to appear in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than other types of drug testing.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites within hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the actual test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Loag, PA, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests with superior accuracy and reliability. Hair tests offer extended detection, identifying drug use up to 90 days, unlike the limited timeframe of urine tests. This ensures employers and institutions can confidently assess substance use history, minimizing the risk of false negatives and securing more informative results.

Extended Detection Window

Through hair follicle testing in Loag, PA, employers gain insight into substance use for up to 90 days. This extended detection window provides a thorough overview of an individual's drug history, aiding in well-rounded evaluations. Such long-term detection complements existing procedures, offering critical insights into behavioral patterns that shorter-duration tests might miss.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Loag, PA is recognized for being tamper-resistant. Its design significantly lessens the chance of sample manipulation, ensuring credible results. Unlike other testing procedures, hair tests are hard to adulterate, providing a secure and trustworthy substance use assessment method for employers and legal entities.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts convenient testing locations throughout Loag, PA, and nationwide. Our facilities ensure quick and hassle-free access to testing services for all clients. Whether local or across the country, our centers offer ease and efficiency, simplifying the testing process for both employers and individuals.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Loag, PA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results are designed to protect privacy and ease of use. This streamlined approach ensures that individuals and employers alike can complete the necessary steps with confidence, knowing that their information is handled securely and efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

At Accredited Drug Testing, we pride ourselves on offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Loag, PA. Our competitive rates and quick results provide excellent value for companies of all sizes. This ensures organizations can maintain their policies without overextending budgets while relying on efficient services for their testing needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Loag, PA offer unmatched precision and speed. Their high accuracy in identifying substance use sets them apart. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests ensure fast and reliable results, ensuring timely actions and decisions for both individuals and organizations. This makes them a preferred choice for thorough substance detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Loag, PA benefit from hair follicle testing, which enhances compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method helps reduce legal risks and fosters a safer work environment. By choosing hair tests, companies can maintain a trustworthy and compliant atmosphere, offering peace of mind and upholding integrity throughout the organization.

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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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