Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mohrsville, PA

What it is, How it works

The utilization of hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a thorough history of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken from near the scalp, hair can yield around a 3-month period for alcohol and drug detection. The collection process is straightforward, making it challenging to tamper with and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil) from the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for screening and validation. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is advised to use 150mg of the sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is not an option, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in the lab processing of drug test outcomes include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into the lab's framework. This process involves confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional information not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Although it is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples provisionally positive in Screening necessitate a secondary verification.

Should a sample be provisionally positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most complex methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any screening result that returns positive is pursued through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive undergo washing pre-confirmation as required. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is assessed in alignment with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Reveals usage history: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: The test, commonly termed "hair follicle tests", examines the hair strand rather than the hair follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Mohrsville, PA

• Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing offers unmatched advantages in substance detection accuracy. Its longer detection window and tamper-resistant nature ensure superior reliability.
• Urine tests typically cover a shorter detection period, making hair tests preferable for a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use habits.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Mohrsville, PA

• Employing a hair follicle test allows detection of drug use over an extended period of up to 90 days, much longer than urine tests. This capability provides employers with a full narrative of an applicant or employee's substance use history.
• With a comprehensive detection window, businesses can make informed decisions, ensuring that their workforce aligns with company standards and expectations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Mohrsville, PA

• Hair follicle tests are highly effective in curbing sample adulteration, ensuring reliability. The method's direct collection and analysis process greatly reduces the possibility of tampering.
• The assurance of unbiased and unaltered results helps organizations maintain integrity in their testing processes, fostering trust in their safety protocols.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Mohrsville, PA

• Our extensive network of nationwide centers ensures swift and convenient access to testing services. Mohrsville residents can enjoy efficient and uncomplicated testing options locally.
• This accessibility simplifies the logistical aspects of drug testing, providing seamless integration into company protocols and personal scheduling.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Mohrsville, PA

• The procedure for ordering, administering, and acquiring hair test results is straightforward and discreet. This ensures participant privacy and maintains the confidentiality of personal data and test outcomes.
• Our process respects individuals' privacy, giving assurance of a hassle-free experience while delivering timely and dependable results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Mohrsville, PA

• We provide cost-effective pricing coupled with rapid processing times, ensuring excellent value for businesses regardless of size. Our competitive pricing structure guarantees financial efficiency without compromising on quality.
• Mohrsville companies benefit from quick turnaround, receiving reliable results with minimal delay, which supports swift decision-making in workforce management.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Mohrsville, PA

• Hair follicle testing provides precise results quickly, making it ideal for timely detection needs. Speed and accuracy are paramount traits of this method, reassuring businesses of its reliability.
• Employers in Mohrsville benefit from this method, as it accurately reflects substance use history, crucial for maintaining workplace standards and safety protocols.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Mohrsville, PA

• By adopting hair follicle testing, businesses adhere strictly to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks. This proactive measure contributes to a safer and compliant working environment.
• Employers gain peace of mind knowing they are minimizing potential liabilities and enhancing employee productivity through reliable drug testing protocols.

Drug Testing Near Mohrsville, PA

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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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