Hair Follicle Drug Testing - North Apollo, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair screening has emerged as an effective technique for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can deliver up to a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the ideal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step includes confirming that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening provides a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug presence in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for court acceptance. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample shows presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for preparation in the Extraction stage. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty in manipulation: It is exceptionally hard to manipulate a hair drug test, ensuring more accurate results.
• Offers historical insights: It offers a pattern of drug usage over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle tests offer several advantages over traditional urine tests in North Apollo, PA. With a broader detection range, they surpass urine tests by identifying substance use over several months. This method, favored by many, is virtually immune to tampering, ensuring results that are both more accurate and reliable, fulfilling the stringent requirements of zero-tolerance policies.

Extended Detection Window

In North Apollo, PA, the extended detection window of hair follicle testing is a significant benefit. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior, it provides employers with an extensive insight into a candidate's substance history. This prolonged window is pivotal in ensuring informed hiring decisions, empowering employers to maintain a drug-free workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The resilience of hair follicle testing in North Apollo, PA lies in its tamper-resistant methods. By significantly minimizing the chance of sample adulteration, this testing approach assures businesses of the validity and reliability of test outcomes. This robustness against tampering strengthens employer confidence in the results, heightening the credibility of their drug-testing initiatives.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With a broad network of testing centers across the nation, including North Apollo, PA, our establishment ensures convenience and accessibility. This facilitates a seamless process for individuals and companies opting for hair testing. Local sites bring the testing service closer to the community, providing a hassle-free experience that's promptly accessible.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our testing process in North Apollo, PA is designed to be both simple and confidential, providing individuals with peace of mind. From the ordering phase to execution, and receiving results, the procedure prioritizes ease and privacy. Ensuring confidentiality is our commitment, alleviating any concerns about privacy during each step.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

At Accredited Drug Testing in North Apollo, PA, we pride ourselves on offering affordable pricing and swift result turnaround. Our competitive rates ensure that businesses of all sizes can benefit from high-quality testing without financial strain. Coupled with fast processing times, we deliver significant value, supporting company needs efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In North Apollo, PA, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their precision and speed. By detecting substance use with a high degree of accuracy, these tests ensure that employers receive results that are both reliable and timely. Thanks to the efficiency of the testing process, results are often available quickly, offering peace of mind and actionable information when time is of the essence.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in North Apollo, PA, incorporating hair follicle testing assures compliance and enhances peace of mind. Rigorous adherence to drug-free workplace policies is simplified through this reliable testing method, which in turn mitigates potential legal risks. Employers benefit from a safer work environment, fostering a professional atmosphere where safety and policy adherence are paramount.

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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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