Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Prospect Park, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair screening has gained recognition as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When collected near to the scalp, hair can show up to about a 3-month detection window for alcohol and various drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to mail.

A sample length of 1.5 inches from approximately 200 strands (similar in diameter to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides about 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional components, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a quantity of 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to ascertain the specimen's weight. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. References to head hair pertain strictly to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The four fundamental procedures in the laboratory examination of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

The Accessioning stage entails the initial incorporation of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This incorporates ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any supplementary data entry that an electronic chain of custody system might lack.

The Screening stage consists of an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly method to eliminate drug use on most samples, a positive screen must be verified for it to be permissible in legal settings. Samples presenting presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate follow-up confirmation.

Should a specimen indicate presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. In this step, drugs are retrieved from hair at substantially lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is regarded as the most challenging method to conduct.

Confirmation of any preliminary positive Screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples with presumptive positivity undergo washing before confirmation if required. The complete laboratory methodology from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests span a shorter detection period.
• Resistance to deception: It is immensely challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals historical usage: It can detail a pattern of substance usage over a duration, rather than merely capturing recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent consumption: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than alternative drug testing options.
• Possible result discrepancies: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can affect the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the actual examination analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Prospect Park, PA, hair follicle testing trumps traditional urine tests with its advanced detection accuracy and reliability. The significant benefits include longer detection windows and an observed collection process, minimizing tampering risks. Employers find hair tests invaluable for maintaining drug-free workplaces, offering a superior alternative to urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Prospect Park, PA, offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, providing employers a thorough examination of drug use history. This comprehensive view aids in evaluating an applicant's or employee’s substance history, ensuring a well-informed hiring decision and contributing to safer work environments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One key advantage of hair follicle testing in Prospect Park, PA, is its tamper-resistant nature, significantly reducing the chances of sample adulteration. This method delivers reliable, undisputable results, making it a trusted choice for employers and legal bodies, ensuring integrity in testing processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of our nationwide and local testing centers in Prospect Park, PA, offers quick and hassle-free access to hair follicle testing services. With easy access to multiple centers, the process of scheduling and completing drug tests is streamlined, catering to both individuals and corporate needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our simple and confidential process in Prospect Park, PA, for ordering and undertaking hair follicle tests ensures maximum privacy and ease of use. Clients benefit from a straightforward approach, receiving results efficiently while maintaining confidentiality, addressing concerns related to privacy effortlessly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Prospect Park, PA, offers competitive pricing structures and quick turnaround times for hair follicle drug testing, providing exceptional value. This affordable and efficient service is designed to cater to companies of all sizes, assuring excellent value and prompt results, essential for maintaining rigorous workplace standards.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Prospect Park, PA, are paramount. These tests are celebrated for their high accuracy in detecting substance use, providing fast and reliable results. Employers and legal professionals favor hair follicle testing due to its comprehensive detection abilities, enabling quick and correct assessments of drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Prospect Park, PA, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, providing employers peace of mind. This testing method aids in reducing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety by detecting substance use effectively and contributing to a healthier and more secure work environment.

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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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