Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mountain Top, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as a potent method for detecting the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When collected from near the scalp, hair offers approximately a 3-month detection window for these substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) cut closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For tests like EtG add-ons or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair. In contrast, "body hair" encompasses all other varieties (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four essential stages in processing a drug test result in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step, which involves integrating a sample into the lab's system. This stage includes checking if the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry that the electronic chain of custody system may not have provided.

Screening is an initial simple test for drug abuse. It's a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, but a positive screen must be confirmed for court admissibility. Samples that initially test positive in Screening need further confirmation.

Should a sample test positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. Drugs are then extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing the most complex methodology to perform.

Positive results from Screening are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as needed. The whole lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation follows standards from both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug testing can detect drug usage for as long as 90 days, whereas urine testing has a shorter timeframe.
• Difficult to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical data: It provides a timeline of drug usage over months, not just current use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become visible in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other methods.
• Variability in results: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is actually of the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Mountain Top, PA, hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests by providing superior detection accuracy and reliability. This method offers a comprehensive view of an individual's drug use, capturing a wider range of substances over a longer period. Hair tests are less susceptible to manipulation compared to urine tests, ensuring a true reflection of substance use history and supporting better-informed decisions.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle testing method used in Mountain Top, PA boasts an extended detection window, capturing drug use up to 90 days prior. This comprehensive approach offers employers an in-depth understanding of an individual’s substance history over several months, providing valuable insights for making informed hiring or supervisory decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Mountain Top, PA, hair follicle tests stand out as a tamper-resistant drug testing method. This test significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, thereby ensuring the integrity of results. With a process that is difficult to cheat, clients can trust the accuracy and authenticity of the test outcomes, providing peace of mind and confidence in its reliability.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide network of testing centers, including convenient locations in Mountain Top, PA, provides easy access to drug testing services. This accessibility ensures that individuals and businesses can conduct necessary tests without hassle, benefiting from quick and effective service delivery throughout the region and beyond.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, taking, and receiving results from hair follicle drug tests in Mountain Top, PA is designed to be simple and confidential. Our streamlined approach addresses privacy concerns, ensuring that users can confidently utilize our services knowing that their information is secure and their experience is hassle-free.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Mountain Top, PA, our hair follicle test services offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, providing exceptional value for companies of all sizes. We emphasize cost-effectiveness while maintaining high-quality service, ensuring that clients receive superior drug testing solutions without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Mountain Top, PA ensures fast and accurate results, reflecting its high precision in identifying substance use. This method stands out due to its ability to deliver reliable outcomes quickly, allowing for efficient decision-making. Hair tests can pinpoint the presence of drugs with outstanding accuracy, making them an ideal choice for those seeking trustworthy testing solutions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Mountain Top, PA, employers can ensure compliance with workplace drug-free policies, significantly reducing potential legal risks. By adopting this reliable testing method, companies enhance workplace safety, assuring employees and stakeholders of a commitment to maintaining a secure and compliant work environment.

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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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