Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Muhlenberg Park, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for detecting substance use. Hair strands capture a timeline of drug and alcohol consumption by embedding biomarkers within the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer approximately a three-month window for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the girth of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp should provide 100mg of hair, which is ideal for analysis and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It is suggested to measure the hair sample with a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (like facial or underarm hair).

Process Overview

In lab testing, there are four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial task of incorporating a sample into a lab's workflow. This involves ensuring the integrity of the sample's seal and shipment, issuing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any supplemental data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary evaluation to check for substance abuse. While cost-effective in ruling out drug use for most samples, positive results from Screening must undergo confirmation to be court-admissible. Any sample displaying probable positivity in Screening requires further validation.

If the sample shows potential positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair at reduced concentrations compared to alternate methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to conduct.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods are used to confirm any positive screening outcomes. All presumed positive samples undergo washing if necessary prior to confirmation. Each laboratory process step, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: This technique can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine testing offers a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: It's highly challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Chronological data: It provides an overview of substance use over time, not just recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Lacks detection of recent use: It generally takes 5-7 days for substances to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair tests often cost more than other substance testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite its name, "hair follicle tests" actually examine the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Muhlenberg Park, PA

Hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. With superior detection accuracy and reliability, these tests provide a longer surveillance period, capturing a comprehensive view of a person's substance use history, unmatched by urine tests. This enhanced capability makes hair testing a preferred choice in Muhlenberg Park, PA.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Muhlenberg Park, PA

Hair follicle tests are renowned for their ability to detect drug use over an extended period—up to 90 days. This feature provides employers with a detailed insight into an individual's substance history, ensuring informed decision-making processes for hiring and employee assessments in Muhlenberg Park, PA.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Muhlenberg Park, PA

Hair follicle tests significantly decrease the likelihood of sample tampering, delivering reliable and indisputable results. This robust testing method ensures accurate substance use detection and enhances credibility, making it an ideal choice for environments requiring rigorous testing standards in Muhlenberg Park, PA.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Muhlenberg Park, PA

Our extensive network of testing centers across the nation ensures fast, easy, and stress-free access to hair follicle testing services. This convenience positions us as the go-to choice for accessible testing in Muhlenberg Park, PA.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Muhlenberg Park, PA

Our streamlined and confidential process guarantees simplicity and privacy for clients ordering and undergoing hair follicle tests. This method ensures a comfortable experience from order placement through to receiving results, addressing privacy concerns effectively in Muhlenberg Park, PA.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Muhlenberg Park, PA

We are committed to delivering competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, providing excellent value for companies of all sizes. Our affordable services ensure that you're getting the best market value without compromising on quality or speed in Muhlenberg Park, PA.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Muhlenberg Park, PA

Hair follicle testing delivers exceptional precision and quick results, ensuring high accuracy in detecting substance use. This advanced technology enables swift, reliable identification of drug or alcohol consumption. The reliability and speed of these tests make them a top choice for urgent testing needs in Muhlenberg Park, PA.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Muhlenberg Park, PA

Hair follicle testing aids employers in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks, and enhancing overall safety. This peace of mind is invaluable, ensuring a secure and productive work environment in Muhlenberg Park, PA.

Drug Testing Near Muhlenberg Park, 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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