Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Britain, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can reveal alcohol and drug use spanning as far back as 3 months. The sample collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising around 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil thickness) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. It is suggested to measure the specimen's weight using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair not be available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. 'Head hair' specifically pertains to scalp hair, while 'body hair' includes all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The essential procedures in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial stage of integrating a sample into the lab’s system. This step verifies proper sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any data entry that wasn't included in the electronic chain of custody.

Screening performs an initial rapid analysis for drugs of abuse. As a cost-efficient method to assess most samples, if a screen is positive, confirmation is mandatory for legal acceptability. Any Screening results indicating a possible positive require a follow-up confirmation.

Upon receiving a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction preparation. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations lower than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most challenging methodologies.

To confirm any positive Screening results, techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are utilized. Preceding confirmation, all samples showing presumptive positives are washed as necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated in accordance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which are limited to shorter durations.
• Hard to manipulate: Deceptive practices are extremely difficult with hair drug tests, leading to more reliable results.
• Historical insight: It offers an overview of drug consumption over time, not merely recent intake.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent intake: Detection of drugs in hair takes roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically incurs higher costs than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Differences such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand itself, leaving the follicle beneath the scalp untouched.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In New Britain, PA, the advantages of hair follicle testing overshadow conventional urine tests. Hair tests offer greater detection precision and reliability. They effectively uncover substance use over longer durations, surpassing the limited detection capacities of urine tests.

Hair tests are nearly impossible to forge, owing to their broader detection window and resilient nature, making them a trusted option for employers and legal entities enforcing drug-free protocols.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle analysis grants employers in New Britain, PA, an expanded detection window for evaluating drug use, typically stretching up to 90 days. This extended view aids in unveiling a thorough history of an employee or candidate's substance intake.

Such a comprehensive review helps businesses make informed decisions, considering the individual's long-term adherence to drug-free policies. This extended capability grants deeper insight into consistent behavior patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Employing hair follicle tests in New Britain, PA drastically diminishes the chance of sample manipulation. The innate characteristics of hair analysis make it a highly tamper-resistant testing method, offering substantial assurance.

This reliable testing technique ensures that results are beyond contestation, reinforcing the integrity of the screening process and providing stakeholders with indisputable evidence of an individual's substance usage history.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible in New Britain, PA and nationwide, our testing centers facilitate convenient drug testing. The widespread availability of these centers ensures that individuals can easily obtain needed services, minimizing complications.

These centers offer a swift, seamless testing process, saving time and effort, and are equipped to provide comprehensive services to meet diverse testing needs across various locations.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in New Britain, PA is designed to be both simple and confidential. It ensures a stress-free experience from ordering, to testing, to result retrieval, all while maintaining privacy at the forefront.

This streamlined approach reassures users by safeguarding their personal information and guaranteeing an effortless journey throughout the testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and quick result turnaround make hair follicle testing in New Britain, PA affordable for businesses of varying sizes. This cost-effective approach aligns with companies' financial strategies while retaining quality.

Affordable packages, paired with rapid result delivery, ensure that organizations derive excellent value, encouraging them to choose this testing option to enhance workplace security without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In New Britain, PA, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for ensuring fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. The precision of these tests is unmatched, swiftly identifying substances over extended periods, giving peace of mind with their rigorous detection capabilities.

These tests swiftly deliver results, making them invaluable for situations requiring quick insights into drug use. Their rapid processing times and high accuracy make them a preferred choice for drug screening.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies in New Britain, PA, providing peace of mind for employers. This method diminishes legal risks and bolsters safety, enforcing robust control over workplace substance abuse.

By integrating hair analysis, organizations foster a secure environment, emphasizing their commitment to policy adherence and proactive measures, ultimately enhancing overall corporate security and employee well-being.

Drug Testing Near New Britain, PA

Mechanicsville, PA

Plumsteadville, PA

Prospectville, PA

Silverdale, PA

Neshaminy, PA

Dublin, PA

Montgomeryville, PA

Warrington, PA

Brittany Farms-Highlands, PA

Doylestown, PA

Chalfont, 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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