Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mount Oliver, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is widely regarded as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a long-term overview of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal usage details for approximately three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, hard to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch sample, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil thickness) nearest to the scalp, provides about 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG assessments, additional components, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. We advise measuring the sample with a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The drug test result processing involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase of incorporating a sample into a lab's system. This phase includes confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional manual data entry absent from the electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary examination for potential drug use. This phase is an economical method to initially clear most samples of drug use. However, any positive screen must be verified to be legally admissible, requiring further confirmation.

Upon a presumptive positive outcome during Screening, additional hair from the original sample undergoes Extraction preparation. In this process, drugs are extracted from the hair at concentrations much lower than those in other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), underscoring why hair drug testing is among the most challenging methodologies.

Confirming positive screening outcomes employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. Each phase, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is meticulously reviewed under the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use up to 90 days, versus the shorter period for urine testing.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug testing is notably difficult to cheat, improving result reliability.
• Historical usage insight: It reveals a history of drug patterns over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Limited recent detection: Hair takes about 5-7 days before drugs are traceable.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can alter drug metabolite concentration.

Note: Though referred to as "hair follicle tests", the technique examines the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outshines urine testing in accuracy and reliability in Mount Oliver, PA. It offers longer detection periods and is less susceptible to tampering, providing trustworthy results that surpass traditional urine tests.

Compared to urine tests, hair analysis is more effective in detecting long-term substance use. Employers can confidently rely on the accuracy of hair testing, ensuring effective enforcement of drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Mount Oliver, PA, provides a comprehensive view of substance use, reaching up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe enables employers to make informed decisions regarding an individual's drug history.

With such a significant detection period, hair tests present an inclusive look at an individual's substance habits, which is invaluable to employers seeking thorough evaluations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Mount Oliver, PA, hair follicle tests offer robust defenses against sample tampering. Their nature makes them resistant to fraudulent attempts, assuring accuracy and integrity in testing results.

This impenetrable method of testing underlines its reliability, significantly minimizing the risk of manipulating samples and ensuring the delivery of genuine results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing locations nationwide and in Mount Oliver, PA, accessing hair follicle testing services is simple and stress-free. Clients experience rapid and efficient service across all centers.

National and local availability ensures that individuals can easily reach testing facilities, streamlining the testing process for faster, more accessible services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Mount Oliver, PA, is straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy and convenience from ordering to result delivery. Concerns of discretion are effectively addressed.

This uncomplicated procedure reassures individuals of their privacy and provides an easy-to-navigate system, from taking the test to obtaining results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Mount Oliver, PA, prides itself on offering affordable hair testing without compromising speed or accuracy. Competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times provide companies with superb value.

Organizations of all sizes can trust in receiving excellent service and timely results, reinforcing confidence in their investment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Mount Oliver, PA, hair follicle tests are recognized for their fast and dependable results. These tests efficiently identify substance use with high precision, ensuring that employers receive accurate and timely feedback.

Hair testing provides a superior level of accuracy compared to other methods. It effectively captures a record of drug use, allowing organizations to rely on the results for critical decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing provides Mount Oliver, PA, employers with compliance and peace of mind. It upholds workplace drug policies, reducing legal implications and promoting a secure environment.

Employers benefit from knowing they are maintaining policy adherence while ensuring a safer workplace, minimizing the risk associated with drug use.

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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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