Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Morgan, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly valued for its effectiveness in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fiber of the growing hair shaft. When taken near the scalp, hair offers a detection timeframe of up to roughly 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising around 200 hair strands (similar in girth to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, extended panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advised. The sample should be weighed using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. References to head hair mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test outcome includes these four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step where samples are integrated into the laboratory’s database. This encompasses ensuring the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any essential data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid evaluation for substance abuse. While Screening is an economical means of dismissing drug usage in most samples, a positive result demands confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples with a presumptive positive from Screening require further confirmation.

For those samples testing presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is drawn from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations significantly lower than those found in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug testing as comparably challenging to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated in accordance with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation under ISO / IEC 17025.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to three months, unlike urine tests which cover shorter durations.
• Hard to falsify: Manipulating a hair drug test is notably challenging, enhancing the reliability of the results.
• Offers historical insights: It shows a drug usage pattern over a timeframe, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot assess recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Price: Hair drug tests tend to cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Variability in outcomes: Differences like hair color and individual growth rates can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle situated beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Prevails Over Urine Testing in Morgan, PA
Hair follicle assessments are recognized for their enhanced accuracy over traditional urine tests. They offer a longer window for detecting substance use, which strengthens reliability and provides a historical substance usage perspective, unlike urine tests.

Superior Detection and Reliability
Employers seeking best practices prioritize hair testing, given its superior detection capabilities which catch even infrequent use more effectively compared to the shorter detection span of urine analysis, enhancing workplace safety and integrity.

Extended Detection Window

An Extended Detection Timeframe in Morgan, PA
Employing hair follicle testing allows for substance use detection up to 90 days, surpassing the limitations of alternative methods. This extended period aids employers in gaining a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history, crucial for informed decision-making.

Comprehensive Substance History
With its ability to cover such a broad timeframe, hair testing provides an in-depth review, crucial for employers dedicated to maintaining a drug-free environment, reducing potential risks associated with other outdated screening methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Testing with Integrity in Morgan, PA
Hair follicle testing considerably lessens the likelihood of sample tampering, ensuring precise and concrete results. This method's resilience against adulteration offers confidence in test validity, distinguishing it as a preferred choice for drug screening.

Reliable Results You Can Count On
The security hair testing provides in preventing manipulation assures that results are genuine and credible. Such tamper resistance is crucial for employers enforcing stringent drug policies to uphold integrity within their organizations.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience with Nationwide and Local Testing Locations in Morgan, PA
Our expansive network ensures easy access to hair follicle testing services. With numerous centers, both nation-wide and local in Morgan, PA, we prioritize accessibility and convenience for a hassle-free testing experience.

Testing Made Easy
Our dedicated locations across the country effortlessly facilitate the drug testing process. This readily available infrastructure supports quick and efficient service, minimizing interruptions and ensuring timely assessments.

Simple, Confidential Process

A Streamlined and Private Process in Morgan, PA
The procedure for hair follicle testing is both straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, we ensure privacy and simplicity, accommodating any privacy concerns clients might have regarding substance testing.

Confidentiality Assured
Our testing process respects the client's privacy, ensuring sensitive data remains protected. Ease and confidentiality are pivotal to maintaining trust, and we’re dedicated to safeguarding personal information throughout testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Value and Quick Service in Morgan, PA
We pride ourselves on competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, offering exceptional value to businesses of all sizes. Our efficient processes ensure results are delivered promptly without compromising quality or affordability.

Quality Service Within Budget
Affordability and timely results are at the heart of our services, guaranteeing businesses receive outstanding support without incurring excessive costs, fostering peace of mind across diverse economic spectrums of company structures.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Swift and Dependable Results in Morgan, PA
Our hair follicle drug tests deliver rapid and reliable outcomes, providing high-level accuracy in detecting substance use. The method efficiently identifies substances, ensuring employers receive precise data, aiding in maintaining a safe and compliant work environment.

Accuracy at Its Best
As a trusted method, the hair follicle test stands out for its capacity to pinpoint drug traces sooner compared to traditional testing options. This precision offers employers confidence in the integrity of their workforce assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Security for Employers in Morgan, PA
Adopting hair follicle testing is key in upholding workplace drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks, and bolstering security. This method offers peace of mind to employers, ensuring adherence to rigorous safety standards.

Peaceful and Lawful Work Environment
Consistent use of hair testing reinforces organizational policies, reducing liabilities and creating a secure workplace ethos free from concerns over drug use, benefiting overall company reputation and operational productivity.

Drug Testing Near Morgan, PA

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Vanderbilt, PA

Fayette City, PA

Connellsville, PA

Scottdale, PA

Everson, PA

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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