Hair Follicle Drug Testing - North Bend, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a prolonged history of substances by locking in biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When clipped near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window extending up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's diameter) adjacent to the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG testing, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. When referring to head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types, including facial, axillary, etc.

Process Overview

The four primary procedures in the laboratory analysis of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of processing a sample once it enters a laboratory’s system. This step ensures that the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical means to exclude drug usage in the majority of samples, positive screens necessitate confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening mandate a second-level confirmation.

Should a sample test positively during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction process. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a notably lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of performing hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under 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 reveal drug use up to 90 days before, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection span.
• Hard to fake: The accuracy of hair drug tests is high because they are difficult to cheat.
• Offers historical insights: It provides a timeline of drug usage, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Higher cost: Hair drug testing is usually pricier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Variable outcomes: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the levels of drug metabolites within the hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", these tests actually analyze the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In North Bend, PA, hair follicle testing notably outclasses urine testing due to its far superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests only reveal recent drug use, hair testing chronicles substance history more comprehensively across a 90-day span. Plus, sample collection is straightforward and trustworthy.

Employing hair follicle testing over urine tests in North Bend, PA ensures more precise outcomes. Such extensive detection capabilities provide a clearer understanding of substance patterns, outperforming traditional urine testing in reliability and scope.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in North Bend, PA provides an expansive detection window for identifying drug use over a substantial period of up to 90 days. This holistic approach equips employers with comprehensive insights into an applicant or employee's substance history, enabling more informed evaluation processes.

Achieving an extensive detection range, hair testing in North Bend, PA thoroughly assesses drug use histories. Employers thus obtain a clear perspective on an individual's substance habits extending across three months, far exceeding the temporal capabilities of urine analysis.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug testing in North Bend, PA is a leading choice due to its tamper-resistant properties. This method distinctly reduces the chances of sample adulteration, guaranteeing reliable outcomes that are virtually impossible to manipulate, thus providing results that both employers and individuals can rely on.

By significantly minimizing adulteration risks, hair follicle testing in North Bend, PA assures dependable, tamper-resistant results. Such integrity in testing methods fosters confidence and trust among employers looking for steadfast outcome fidelity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With conveniently situated testing centers nationwide, including North Bend, PA, accessing hair follicle testing services is seamless. Accredited Drug Testing offers quick, simple entry points to comprehensive testing solutions, minimizing the hassle often associated with such procedures.

Providing hassle-free access to drug testing, our North Bend, PA location aligns with a network of nationwide centers to ensure testing is convenient and straightforward. Instantaneous and accessible services heighten user satisfaction significantly.

Simple, Confidential Process

In North Bend, PA, our hair follicle testing offers a streamlined process that's both simple and discreet. From ordering to receiving results, the procedure ensures a confidential experience, addressing privacy concerns and ease-of-use for participants effectively.

With a focus on confidentiality and ease, the hair testing procedure in North Bend, PA is remarkably intuitive. It simplifies the journey from scheduling a test to obtaining results, ensuring privacy and participant comfort throughout every stage.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in North Bend, PA combines affordable pricing with fast turnaround times, ensuring exceptional value for businesses of all sizes. Our cost-effective solutions offer both economic and timely benefits, providing peace of mind and comprehensive insights efficiently.

Companies in North Bend, PA will find our hair follicle tests both budget-friendly and prompt, enhancing value through competitive pricing and accelerated result times. This combination of affordability and efficiency enhances the overall testing experience.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug testing in North Bend, PA, stand unmatched. With a reputation for high accuracy in detecting substance use, hair tests offer fast, reliable results that employers can trust. This method guarantees quick analysis, ensuring timely decisions backed by solid evidence.

Hair follicle testing methods in North Bend, PA are esteemed for their adeptness in providing detailed, accurate assessments fluidly and efficiently. Employers can count on receiving thorough insights rapidly, which strengthens informed decision-making processes significantly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in North Bend, PA, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks and bolstering safety. This efficient testing keeps in line with compliance standards and cultivates a productive and safe working environment with greater peace of mind.

Utilizing hair testing in North Bend, PA aids employers in confidently maintaining policy compliance and workplace safety. By diminishing potential legal and safety concerns, this method reinforces faith in organizational drug testing protocols.

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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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