Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Middleboro, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a potent technique for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and other drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer up to a three-month detection period for alcohol and various drugs. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It's recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be utilized. When referring to head hair, it means scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This includes verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any additional data entry not available via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial rapid examination for drug abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples showing presumed positivity in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample reveals presumed positivity in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at notably low concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for hair drug screening being the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome occurs utilizing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumed positivity undergo a wash as necessary before confirmation. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can determine drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely difficult, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Historical data provision: It can delineate a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: It typically takes 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often pricier when compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why do hair follicle tests surpass urine tests in Middleboro, PA? The key lies in their superior detection accuracy and consistency. Hair testing outperforms traditional urine tests by offering a broader detection window, minimizing the challenges of evasion, and providing trustworthy results that employers can count on.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing, up to 90 days, offers a comprehensive view of substance use in Middleboro, PA. This capability allows employers to make informed evaluations of prospective or current employees' drug habits, thereby enhancing workplace safety and policy adherence.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Middleboro, PA, recognizes hair follicle testing as a tamper-resistant method that greatly reduces sample adulteration risks. The structured nature of hair collection makes it nearly impossible to alter samples, ensuring results are both credible and defensible.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With extensive nationwide centers, including those in Middleboro, PA, Accredited Drug Testing ensures accessibility and convenience. These strategic locations guarantee quick and uncomplicated access to our testing services, making the process streamlined and hassle-free for all customers.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Middleboro, PA, is straightforward and private, addressing concerns about confidentiality and ease of use. From ordering tests to receiving results, the procedure is designed to protect privacy and ensure smooth operation.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing delivers value in Middleboro, PA. Companies of all sizes benefit from affordable rates and quick results, which foster peace of mind and ensure timely decision-making in their substance testing needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Middleboro, PA, hair follicle drug tests are synonymous with fast, precise, and dependable results. Recognized for their high accuracy, these tests efficiently detect substance usage, providing assurance in their reliability. The meticulous process ensures that results are reached swiftly, facilitating prompt decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Middleboro, PA, hair follicle testing offers compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By adopting this method, businesses mitigate legal risks and forge a safer work environment, granting peace of mind in knowing their policies are backed by reliable testing standards.

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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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