Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lyons, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can chronicle long-term use of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the threads of the growing strand. When clipped close to the scalp, a hair sample can unveil a detection span of up to around three months for alcohol and other drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with about 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in size) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, deemed the optimal quantity for screening and verification. To conduct EtG, add-ons, and/or assessments over 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's beneficial to measure the hair using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is absent, a similar amount of body hair may be sourced. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the introductory stage where the sample is integrated into a laboratory's system. The process involves validating the sealing and shipment of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any additional data input not accomplished by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. While it’s a cost-efficient approach to dismiss drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screening necessitates confirmation to be permissible in court. Samples that render presumptive positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

For any samples labeled presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are drawn from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), establishing hair drug screening as the most complex methodology to administer.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation when necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards of accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timespan: Hair drug tests can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests provide a narrower detection period.
• Resistant to manipulation: Hair drug tests are difficult to manipulate, which enhances the accuracy of the results.
• Offers historical insights: It can depict patterns of drug use over a duration, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It generally requires 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug assessments are more costly compared to some alternative methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair pigmentation and individual variations in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the procedure actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair tests to standard urine tests, the superiority becomes clear in Lyons, PA. Hair follicle tests boast longer detection periods, ensuring even slight drug use is visible, unlike the shorter timeframe urine tests offer.

The higher detection accuracy in hair testing provides reliable results, minimizing the chances of false negatives. This precision translates to stricter policies and better workplace adherence.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle drug testing in Lyons, PA, opens a window up to 90 days, giving employers a comprehensive look into an individual's substance history. This extended detection period far surpasses the limited timeframe of traditional urine tests.

Employers gain a profound understanding of an applicant’s or employee’s long-term behavior, ensuring informed decision-making. The expansive detection window offers insights rarely possible through other means.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the key benefits of hair follicle tests in Lyons, PA, is their resistance to tampering. The nature of the sample makes it difficult to alter, ensuring the results are trustworthy and verifiable.

With reduced risk of adulteration, organizations can rely on the reliability of hair tests to enforce drug policies effectively. This method supports the truthfulness of test outcomes, fostering confidence in the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers scattered nationwide and locally in Lyons, PA, Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy and hassle-free access to services. The convenience of numerous locations supports quick testing procedures.

Clients can rely on the extensive network of testing sites, streamlining the testing process for fast, efficient service. This accessibility eliminates stress, reinforcing commitment to client satisfaction.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Lyons, PA, is both simple and confidential. Clients can effortlessly order, take, and receive test results while resting assured their privacy is preserved.

This user-friendly procedure addresses concerns about confidentiality and usability, empowering clients to engage with testing services confidently and without hassle.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing for hair follicle testing in Lyons, PA, ensures affordability without compromising on speed or quality. Businesses of all sizes find exceptional value in our fast turnaround times.

Offering excellent value, our services allow companies to maintain budgets while benefiting from rigorous testing standards. This balance of cost-effectiveness and reliability supports comprehensive screening initiatives.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests conducted in Lyons, PA, are unparalleled. These tests are designed to provide fast, accurate detection of substance use, ensuring employers can rely on the findings to make informed decisions.

By employing hair testing, you benefit from high precision rates, making it a dependable option for screening. Clients can trust the results to be both timely and precise, supporting quick decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in Lyons, PA, supports compliance with rigorous drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety, a critical concern for employers.

Employers enjoy peace of mind, knowing they're maintaining a safe, compliant environment. This assurance underpins trust and reliability in business operations, promoting a secure workplace culture.

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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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