Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pleasant Gap, PA

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand, offering a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug intake. When clipped near the scalp, hair samples can furnish a detection timeframe of up to 3 months for both substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transport.

Taking a 1.5-inch sample comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's size) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, an optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. It is suggested to measure the hair sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, the same quantity of body hair may be utilized. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair, while body hair denotes all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Initial Process Steps

The principal steps of the lab processing for a drug test result comprise Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s framework. This process includes ensuring the sample's proper seal and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry if absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening involves an initial swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening serves as an economical means to exclude drug usage in most specimens, a positive result necessitates validation for court acceptance. Samples presumed positive in Screening mandate a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample exhibit a presumptively positive result in the Screening stage, additional hair is sourced from the initial sample for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug testing the most intricate method to execute.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Hair Drug Testing Benefits:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug intake for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a limited detection period.
• Hard to deceive: Deceptively bypassing a hair drug test is particularly tough, enhancing result accuracy.
• Tracks usage history: Offers a record of drug usage patterns over time, as opposed to merely recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Unable to detect recent usage: A span of 5-7 days is required for drugs to register in hair tests.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences may influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Pleasant Gap, PA. Hair follicle analysis has set a new benchmark in substance testing with its superior detection accuracy and reliability compared to traditional urine tests. Its extended detection window reveals drug use history up to 90 days, far surpassing the narrower timeframe of urine tests.
While urine tests detect recent use, hair analysis offers a panoramic view of an individual's drug history, making it ideal for rigorous compliance needs.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Pleasant Gap, PA. The hair follicle method allows substance tracking for up to 90 days, significantly longer than many other testing methods. This capability gives employers deeper insights into an individual's past drug use habits.

• Offering a clear and detailed overview of an applicant or employee's substance history, employers feel more confident in their hiring and monitoring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Pleasant Gap, PA. Hair follicle tests ensure a high level of integrity by greatly minimizing the potential for tampering. Unlike other methods, hair tests are difficult to adulterate, which guarantees reliable results.
The procedure leaves no room for substitutes or alterations, offering an indisputable account of an individual's substance use, thus enhancing the credibility of the screening process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Pleasant Gap, PA. Accredited Drug Testing offers widespread access with facilities available across the nation, including locally in Pleasant Gap.

• With a network tailored for ease, ensuring seamless and prompt access to testing services becomes straightforward, sparing you the hassle of lengthy processes.

Testing centers are equipped to handle your needs efficiently, promising a streamlined experience from start to finish.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Pleasant Gap, PA. Booking and executing a hair follicle test with us is straightforward and maintains strict privacy protocols. Clients rest assured knowing personal data is protected through every step.
With a focus on confidentiality and simplicity, results are delivered discreetly, ensuring the process is as comfortable as it is effective for everyone involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Pleasant Gap, PA. Our competitive pricing makes top-tier hair follicle testing accessible to organizations of all sizes. By offering quick turnaround times, we provide excellent value through efficient yet economical testing solutions.

With Accredited Drug Testing, you not only save on costs but also benefit from swift service, making it an attractive choice for businesses prioritizing both quality and economy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Pleasant Gap, PA. Hair follicle drug testing shines in its precision, providing quick and trustworthy results. The capability of detecting even small traces of substances ensures a comprehensive assessment, offering peace of mind through its precision and efficiency.

Employers in Pleasant Gap value the assured reliability delivered by hair testing, as it equips them with the swift and accurate insights needed to make informed decisions while maintaining the safety and integrity of their workforce.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Pleasant Gap, PA. Employers gain significant peace of mind using hair follicle testing, as it aids compliance with stringent drug-free policies.

• By reducing legal risks and ensuring safety in the workplace, hair testing strengthens the employer's ability to foster a productive and secure environment.
• Decreased misunderstandings and improved trust result from implementing such robust testing frameworks.

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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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