Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mcclure, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive history of alcohol and substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair can deliver up to an estimated 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to obtain, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, add-ons, and/or screenings beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When we mention head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair variants (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in a laboratory's processing of a drug testing result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encapsulates the initial handling of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This step encompasses confirming that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, attributing a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial cursory examination for drugs of abuse. While Screening offers a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug usage on most samples, a positive result must be validated to be permissible in legal settings. Any samples that yield a presumptive positive in Screening require a follow-up verification.

If a sample appears positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is retrieved from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to hair drug screening being the most intricate methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed pre-confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and certification to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection window: Hair drug screenings can identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a relatively brief detection period.
• Challenge to deceive: Manipulating a hair drug test is extremely cumbersome, enhancing the credibility of the results.
• Delivers retrospective data: It can chart a timeline of drug consumption over an extended period, rather than mere recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot ascertain recent consumption: It roughly requires 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments typically incur higher costs than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair hue and personal growth rates can influence the concentration of drug metabolites within the hair.

Note: Although typically referred to as "hair follicle tests", the assessment actually analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Superiority of Hair Testing
In McClure, PA, hair follicle testing proves to be more effective compared to traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy. While urine tests may detect recent drug use, hair tests provide detection of extended substance use over a longer period.

Enhanced Reliability
The reliability of hair testing surpasses that of urine tests by offering undistorted results over a period of up to 90 days, ensuring a comprehensive overview of substance use behavior.

Extended Detection Window

Prolonged Detection
Employers in McClure, PA benefit from hair follicle testing’s extended detection window, which spans up to 90 days. This feature allows a more comprehensive view of an individual's substance use history over time.

Comprehensive Histories
The hair follicle test's ability to cover an extended time frame offers potential employers in-depth insights into an applicant or employee's drug use pattern, which aids in making informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Reduced Tampering Risk
The hair follicle testing method in McClure, PA boasts a robust resistance to tampering, making it highly reliable. The accurate results ensure testing integrity, leaving no room for sample adulteration.

Unquestionable Reliability
Hair follicle tests significantly diminish the adulteration risks that often plague other testing methods, providing results that can be trusted and maintaining the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide Convenience
With testing centers available nationwide, including McClure, PA, obtaining a hair follicle test is made convenient, quick, and hassle-free, ensuring accessibility to high-quality testing services no matter the location.

Local Accessibility
The presence of local testing facilities in McClure, PA emphasizes convenience, allowing easy access to testing services and minimizing the time required to complete the process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Confidential Process
Our straightforward and confidential process in McClure, PA, for ordering and conducting hair follicle tests ensures user privacy and ease. From the initial request to result delivery, confidentiality is maintained throughout.

Ease of Use
The simplicity of our testing process guarantees that every step is designed to preserve privacy and offer convenience, making it a preferred choice for drug testing needs in McClure, PA.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing
Offering reasonable pricing in McClure, PA, our hair follicle drug tests provide excellent value. With a pricing structure designed to be affordable, our services are accessible to companies of diverse sizes.

Quick Turnaround
In McClure, PA, our hair testing process ensures a swift turnaround time for results, enabling companies to make informed decisions promptly while enjoying a cost-effective solution.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Precise
In McClure, PA, hair follicle drug tests deliver both precision and speed. These tests are adept at identifying substance use, ensuring exceptionally high accuracy. The rapidity with which results are processed provides reliability and leaves little room for doubt.

High Accuracy
The precision of hair follicle testing allows for an accurate detection of drug use, offering a level of reliability unmatched by other testing methods. Its efficiency and speed in delivering results add to the overall confidence of drug testing practices.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance
In McClure, PA, hair follicle testing is instrumental in complying with drug-free workplace policies. This method not only reduces potential legal issues but also fosters a safer working environment.

Enhancing Workplace Safety
Employers who utilize hair testing enjoy peace of mind knowing that this method helps in maintaining compliance and significantly lowering the risk of drug use, contributing to overall workplace safety and wellness.

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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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