Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Penn State Erie (behrend), PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying alcohol and drug usage. Hair provides an extended timeline of alcohol and drug intake by securing biomarkers within the fibers of the cultivated hair strand. When procured close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of roughly up to 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch portion consisting of around 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to weigh the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equal quantity of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary four steps in the laboratory workflow for producing a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This comprises confirming that the sample was securely sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accession Number), and finalizing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid evaluation for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to rule out drug usage for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for validity in legal proceedings. Any specimen that is presumptively positive during Screening necessitates a secondary verification.

Should a sample appear presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are drawn out from hair at considerably lower concentrations than with other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening results is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and in compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection frame: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption up to 90 days, whereas urine tests present a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to falsify: It is exceedingly challenging to deceive a hair drug test, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical information: It can depict a trend of drug consumption over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of pinpointing recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days for substances to register in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth variance can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often dubbed "hair follicle tests", the assessment actually scrutinizes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA
Hair follicle testing offers a distinct edge over traditional urine tests, featuring superior detection accuracy and reliability. With a longer detection window and resistance to tampering, hair tests provide a more comprehensive overview of an individual's drug use history, ensuring better decision-making for employers.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA
Hair follicle testing is renowned for its ability to detect drug use over an extended period of up to 90 days. This extensive window offers employers a thorough perspective on an individual's past substance use, making it a valuable tool in evaluating potential hires or monitoring current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA
Hair follicle tests significantly minimize the risk of sample adulteration, providing results that are reliable and beyond question. This testing method offers security and authenticity, ensuring that the results reflect true substance use without the threat of tampering.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA
With an extensive network of nationwide testing centers, accessing drug testing services is quick and hassle-free in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA. Our locations are strategically positioned to ensure convenience, allowing individuals to fulfill testing needs efficiently without unnecessary travel.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA
Our hair follicle testing procedure is straightforward and keeps confidentiality a priority. From ordering the test to receiving results, the process is designed to be user-friendly and private, ensuring that individual privacy is protected throughout the entire testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA
We offer competitive pricing structures and swift turnaround times, providing excellent value and assurance for businesses of all sizes. Our cost-effective solutions make it easy for companies to incorporate reliable drug testing into their organizational protocols without straining budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA
Hair follicle drug testing delivers rapid and dependable results, with high accuracy in identifying substance use. Unlike urine tests, hair testing has a precise methodology that minimizes errors and offers swift, reliable insights into an individual's drug use background in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA
Implementing hair follicle testing helps employers maintain compliance with workplace drug-free policies, reducing legal liabilities and enhancing safety. This testing method supports a healthier work environment, bringing peace of mind to company leaders and employees alike.

Drug Testing Near Penn State Erie (behrend), PA

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Avonia, PA

Waterford, PA

Middleboro, PA

Wattsburg, PA

Erie, PA

Northwest Harborcreek, PA

Wesleyville, 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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