Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Plum, PA

Employment, DOT, Court Ordered, Personal
Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG

30 Hair Drug Testing Centers in Plum

Minutes Away, Test Today

28 Colony Blvd3.31 miles

28 Colony Blvd
Blairsville, PA 15717

5769 Saltsburg Road, #24.29 miles

5769 Saltsburg Road, #2
Verona, PA 15147

251 7th St Ste 201b4.38 miles

251 7th St Ste 201b
New Kensington, PA 15068

125 Daugherty Drive, Suite 4204.45 miles

125 Daugherty Drive, Suite 420
Monroeville, PA 15146

3824 Northern Pike Ste 7754.57 miles

3824 Northern Pike Ste 775
Monroeville, PA 15146

2644 Mosside Blvd4.61 miles

2644 Mosside Blvd
Monroeville, PA 15146

3824 Northern Pike, Suite 1254.65 miles

3824 Northern Pike, Suite 125
Monroeville, PA 15146

2300 Freeport Road, 14 Feldarelli Square4.86 miles

2300 Freeport Road, 14 Feldarelli Square
New Kensington, PA 15068

1000 Integrity Drive, Ste 3204.90 miles

1000 Integrity Drive, Ste 320
Pittsburgh, PA 15235

391 Washington Ave4.93 miles

391 Washington Ave
Oakmont, PA 15139

2570 Haymaker Rd5.01 miles

2570 Haymaker Rd
Monroeville, PA 15146

2550 Mosside Blvd Ste 2145.07 miles

2550 Mosside Blvd Ste 214
Monroeville, PA 15146

2585 Freeport Rd Ste 1055.18 miles

2585 Freeport Rd Ste 105
Pittsburgh, PA 15238

2380 Mcginley Rd5.19 miles

2380 Mcginley Rd
Monroeville, PA 15146

4120 7th Street Rd5.27 miles

4120 7th Street Rd
New Kensington, PA 15068

600 Oxford Drive, Suite 1105.28 miles

600 Oxford Drive, Suite 110
Monroeville, PA 15146

1600 Wildlife Lodge Road,5.80 miles

1600 Wildlife Lodge Road,
Lower Burrell, PA 15068

3433 William Penn Hwy5.84 miles

3433 William Penn Hwy
Pittsburgh, PA 15235

201 Penn Center Blvd Ste 5005.90 miles

201 Penn Center Blvd Ste 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15235

4620 William Penn Hwy6.65 miles

4620 William Penn Hwy
Murrysville, PA 15668

303 E 10th Ave7.25 miles

303 E 10th Ave
Tarentum, PA 15084

50 Freeport Road, Unit 4008.35 miles

50 Freeport Road, Unit 400
Aspinwall, PA 15215

50 Freeport Rd Ste 5008.36 miles

50 Freeport Rd Ste 500
Aspinwall, PA 15215

15 Freeport Rd Ste 1008.37 miles

15 Freeport Rd Ste 100
Pittsburgh, PA 15215

4889 William Penn Highway - Wa,8.88 miles

4889 William Penn Highway - Wa,
Murrysville, PA 15668

1951 Lincoln Hwy9.34 miles

1951 Lincoln Hwy
North Versailles, PA 15137

3706 5th Ave Ste 29.80 miles

3706 5th Ave Ste 2
North Versailles, PA 15137

5201 Baum Blvd10.34 miles

5201 Baum Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

874 Butler St Ste 210.36 miles

874 Butler St Ste 2
Pittsburgh, PA 15223

2727 Murray Avenue,10.47 miles

2727 Murray Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Employment, Court Ordered, Probation, Family

Plum, Pennsylvania benefits from the thorough hair follicle drug testing services offered by Accredited Drug Testing. If you're in need of a hair or alcohol test, our expertise lies in hair testing, with centers available in all cities nationwide to conduct these tests. Generally, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the crown or body is required. Varieties of hair tests include analysis for drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other tailored options.

Lately, hair follicle drug testing has become a preferred method for detecting drug usage. It is increasingly favored by employers, courts, and Substance Abuse professionals who demand a more stringent testing standard than typical urine tests. Ideal for zero-tolerance workplaces, legal settings, and probation scenarios, hair testing excels due to its extended detection capability of up to 90 days, monitored collection process, and resistance to testing evasion. In contrast, urine tests remain superior for detecting very recent use within five days.

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is considered a significant method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extensive historical account of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can determine the presence of alcohol and substances for up to a 3-month period. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easily transportable.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg, which is ideal for analysis. For tests involving EtG, add-ons, and/or more than 10 panels, 150mg is advised. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar volume of body hair is an option. When mentioning head hair, it pertains exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (like facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The core stages in the lab processing of a drug test include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step where a sample is integrated into the laboratory system. It involves verifying proper sealing and shipping of the sample, issuing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entries from an electronic custody chain.

Screening offers a preliminary assessment for drugs. Though this step is economical for excluding drug use in most cases, a positive screening must undergo confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples showing a positive indication at this stage need further confirmation.

For samples with a positive indication during Screening, additional hair is utilized from the initial sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations significantly lower than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing particularly complex.

Confirmation of positive results happens through techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a positive indication undergo necessary washing prior to confirmation. The full lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation with 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 timeframe.
  • High difficulty to deceive: The accuracy of hair drug tests is higher due to the difficulty in tampering with the results.
  • Offers past usage data: It records a history of drug consumption over time, instead of just recent use.

Limitations:

  • Unable to detect recent consumption: Detection in hair takes about 5-7 days post drug use.
  • Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other methodologies.
  • Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual growth rates can influence metabolite concentration levels in hair.

Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine testing demonstrates substantial benefits. In Plum, PA, the accuracy and reliability of hair drug tests surpass older methods. Hair testing offers superior detection capabilities. Detecting drug use up to 90 days, it significantly outperforms urine tests, often limited by shorter detection spans and aqueous substance resolution.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Plum, PA leverage hair follicle drug testing to gain a comprehensive understanding of a candidate's or current employee's drug use history. With a detection window of up to 90 days, this method offers an extended insight that helps form a well-rounded assessment of an individual's substance use, surpassing the limitations faced by other testing options.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Plum, PA, the hair follicle testing method stands out due to its resistance to tampering and adulteration. the low likelihood of sample manipulation means businesses, courts, and professionals can trust the outcomes. Such reliability ensures the decisions made based on these results are founded on integrity and strong evidence.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing options in Plum, PA and nationwide. Our wide-reaching network of facilities ensures simple access to drug testing services, providing efficient, hassle-free experiences. This widespread availability emphasizes convenience, facilitating smooth processes no matter the location, ensuring testing needs are met promptly.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair drug testing in Plum, PA is straightforward and confidential, reducing concerns about privacy and intricacy. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed with user comfort in mind, maintaining confidentiality while ensuring a seamless journey from start to finish for all involved parties.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Plum, PA, hair follicle testing is provided at competitive prices while prioritizing swift turnaround. This ensures companies of any size can benefit from both cost-effectiveness and timely results. Such affordability, paired with quick result delivery, offers excellent value and supports confident, informed decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Plum, PA, hair follicle drug tests offer a fast and precise way to detect substance use. They are noted for their elevated accuracy levels, ensuring reliable outcomes in substance testing. This procedure's speed allows for quicker delivery of results than many alternatives, highlighting its value and necessity in environments where prompt, accurate decisions are essential.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Businesses in Plum, PA achieve greater compliance and safety through hair follicle testing. This technique supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, curbing legal issues and fostering a safe environment. By opting for hair testing, employers ensure their approach to monitoring drug use aligns with regulations while promoting peace of mind among staff and management.

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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Frequently Asked Questions

A hair follicle drug test analyzes a small sample of hair to detect a history of drug use over time. Because drug metabolites are incorporated into hair as it grows, this method can show patterns of use instead of just recent exposure. It is frequently used for legal and court requirements, long-term monitoring, and high-trust workforce screening.
Standard hair drug testing typically reflects drug use over approximately a 90-day period, based on the length of hair collected at the time of testing. Longer hair can sometimes reflect a longer time frame, and extremely short hair can reduce that window.
Hair drug testing commonly screens for marijuana/THC, cocaine, opiates/opioids, amphetamines/methamphetamines, and PCP. In many cases, additional expanded panels may be requested to include other substances.
Yes. If the donor's head hair is too short or unavailable, body hair may be collected as an alternative. The collector will document the source of the sample. This allows testing even for individuals with recently cut or shaved head hair.
Yes. Hair drug testing is commonly used in court, probation, custody, and compliance matters because the collection process follows a documented chain of custody and the analysis is performed by a certified laboratory. Results are provided in a form that can be reviewed by legal and administrative authorities.
Yes. Individuals, parents, attorneys, employers, and probation programs can all request hair drug testing. A doctor's order is not required. Results are confidential and released only to the authorized requesting party.
Hair testing provides a longer look-back period than urine testing, making it useful when you need to demonstrate ongoing abstinence or identify repeated/recent substance use patterns over time rather than just recent exposure. It is frequently selected for legal, compliance, and custody-related documentation.
A small section of hair is cut by a trained collector in a discreet, controlled manner. The sample is sealed, documented, and sent to the laboratory under established chain-of-custody procedures so that the results can be defended if they are ever challenged.

Customer Reviews

Sweet and helpful

Trish was amazing and got me through the sytem very fast and swift. I had a hard time hearing her a couple of times, but she was super sweet and helpful throughout the process. Highly recommend her!

Sophia Schutze - 6/19/2024

Quick, knowledgeable and courteous

Quick, knowledgeable and courteous Janelle worked diligently to support me. I am recommending their services to anyone looking.

Greensboro Joseph - 11/19/2024

Very Fun and Easy

Trish last week and Tatiana this week, very fun and easy folks to deal with. Well be using them more and more in the future.

Tom O - 12/19/2024


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