Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Meshoppen, PA

What it is, How it works

The recognition of hair testing as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption has increased. It captures a historical record of these substances by trapping biomarkers within the strands as they grow. If hair is collected near the scalp, it can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair samples are easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample 1.5 inches in length with around 200 hair fibers (comparable to a #2 pencil) cut closest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for analysis. For tests that include EtG, additional tests, or exceed 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be retrieved. The term head hair is specifically referring to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other kinds (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for handling a drug test result consists of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step, where a sample is incorporated into a laboratory’s system. This involves confirming the sample’s seal and shipment integrity, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) randomly, and executing any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial cursory inspection for drug abuse. While it serves as an economical method to eliminate drug use possibilities for the majority of samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal validation. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Drugs are extracted from the hair at much lower concentrations than achievable through other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening poses the greatest challenge.

Confirmation for any positive screen result is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before confirmation, all samples with presumptive positives are cleaned as appropriate. The comprehensive process from Accessioning to Confirmation is meticulously evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug intake for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests that offer a shorter detection window.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring higher accuracy of the results.
• Historical usage information: It reveals a pattern of substance use across broader durations, beyond recent intake.

Limitations:

• No detection of recent intake: Drugs require about 5-7 days post intake to manifest in hair samples.
• Cost considerations: Typically, hair drug tests incur higher costs compared to alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the level of drug metabolites present in hair samples.

Note: Despite being colloquially termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination actually evaluates the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing testing methods, hair follicle testing in Meshoppen, PA, offers unmatched benefits over traditional urine tests. Greater detection accuracy is achieved with hair analysis, providing more reliable results. Unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection window, hair testing provides a more comprehensive analysis, making it the preferred choice for many organizations.

Extended Detection Window

Meshoppen, PA employers benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection window, which can reveal substance use for up to 90 days. This long-term insight provides a detailed account of an individual's substance history, aiding employers in making informed hiring and workplace decisions. The ability to assess past behavior effectively is invaluable.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Meshoppen, PA, hair follicle testing is recognized for its tamper-resistant capabilities. By significantly reducing the risk of sample adulteration, the testing method ensures that results are both reliable and irrefutable. This advantage protects against dishonest practices, making hair testing a trusted option for fair and accurate drug assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers numerous convenient testing locations throughout Meshoppen, PA, as well as nationwide. The widespread availability of centers supports quick and hassle-free scheduling, ensuring that individuals and employers can access testing services conveniently, maintaining ease and efficiency throughout the process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Conducting hair follicle tests in Meshoppen, PA, involves a simple and confidential process. From ordering to sample collection and result delivery, privacy and user-friendliness are prioritized. Individuals can trust this process to safeguard their personal information, while still providing necessary insights efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Meshoppen, PA, hair follicle testing combines affordable pricing with fast turnaround times. Companies of all sizes can benefit from competitive prices, making comprehensive drug testing accessible without financial strain. Swift results ensure that businesses can proceed with their activities without unnecessary delays.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Meshoppen, PA, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its speed and precision. Capable of quickly identifying substance use, it offers a high accuracy rate in detecting various drugs. Since the testing process is highly advanced, results are both reliable and delivered swiftly, providing stakeholders with the information needed to make informed decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Meshoppen, PA, hair follicle testing assures compliance and peace of mind. By integrating this testing into workplace policies, companies can effectively support drug-free environments and minimize legal liabilities. Confidence in maintaining a safe and compliant workplace is enhanced significantly through this method.

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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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