Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Manns Choice, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has garnered recognition as an effective method for uncovering substance use, including drugs and alcohol. By capturing biomarkers within the hair fiber as it grows, hair offers a chronicled account of substance ingestion. When snipped close to the scalp, hair can unveil drug and alcohol consumption spanning up to three months. Hair acquisition is uncomplicated, somewhat tamper-resistant, and straightforward to transport.

An ideal sample is represented by a segment of hair measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, yielding 100mg, optimal for both screening and confirmatory tests. For EtG and additional panels exceeding 10, 150mg is suggested. Employ a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a comparable volume of body hair is permissible. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair denotes all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four critical phases in the lab workflow for processing a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning signifies the primary handling of a sample within the laboratory's framework. It encompasses confirming the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, attributing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addressing any missing data entries not covered by an electronic chain of custody mechanism.

Screening serves as a preliminary examination for abusive substances. While economical in identifying non-drug-abuse cases among most samples, a positive screening must undergo confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptively positive samples in Screening necessitate secondary verification.

For samples testing positive provisionally in Screening, further hair is sourced from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. Here, drug extraction from hair occurs at significantly lower concentrations than with other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies facilitate Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes. Pre-confirmation washing occurs where necessary. The comprehensive lab processing, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is meticulously evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair drug tests can trace substance use up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with narrower detection periods.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is remarkably tough to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result veracity.
• Chronological substance insight: These tests can portray drug use patterns spanning timeframes, beyond recent usage indicators alone.

Limitations:

• Detects no recent use: Detection of drugs in hair typically requires 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to incur higher costs compared to alternate methodologies.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair can fluctuate due to hair color and individual growth discrepancies.

Note: Popularly called "hair follicle tests," the examination focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Manns Choice, PA, the advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests are apparent. Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy and reliability, making them the preferred choice for many. Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle analysis provides an extended detection window and is less susceptible to tampering, ensuring integrity in results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Manns Choice, PA, stands out for its ability to reveal substance use over an extensive period, up to 90 days. This prolonged detection window gives employers comprehensive insights into an individual's substance history, allowing for informed decision-making regarding employment status within the organization.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Manns Choice, PA, hair follicle testing is renowned for its resistance to tampering, significantly minimizing the possibility of adulterated samples. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests offer results that are dependable and difficult to dispute, fostering trust and assurance in the testing outcomes for all stakeholders involved.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides unmatched convenience in Manns Choice, PA, through our extensive network of nationwide testing centers. With accessible locations, testing is quick and hassle-free. Our services are structured to make the testing experience seamless and straightforward, reflecting our dedication to client satisfaction.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Manns Choice, PA, the process for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential from start to finish. Accredited Drug Testing prioritizes privacy while ensuring ease of use. Ordering, taking, and receiving results are streamlined to provide clients with a stress-free experience that addresses any concern over privacy and operational efficiency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive prices and swift turnaround, our hair follicle testing services in Manns Choice, PA, deliver great value to businesses. By providing efficient and affordable solutions, we cater to companies of varying sizes, ensuring they receive cost-effective options without compromising on quality or reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Manns Choice, PA, hair follicle tests provide top-of-the-line drug screening, recognized for their impressive precision and rapid turnaround. These tests are highly regarded for detecting substance use with accuracy. Hair testing showcases cutting-edge technology, offering results that are reliable and prompt, making them a superior option over conventional testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Manns Choice, PA, gain compliance and peace of mind by using hair follicle tests. These tests ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies and mitigate legal risks. The commitment to safe and compliant practices fosters a secure environment, ensuring employee well-being and organizational integrity.

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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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