Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Rebersburg, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch a portion of approximately 200 hair strands (about #2 pencil thickness) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which serves as the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analysis over 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" strictly refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The main stages in the laboratory analysis of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This step involves checking that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a fast preliminary check for drug abuse. While Screening offers an economical means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be court-admissible. Samples identified as presumptively positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample appears presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other tests (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory operation from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection duration.
• Challenging to circumvent: Cheating a hair drug test is very tough, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the examination analyzes the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Rebersburg, PA, hair follicle testing is emerging as the preferred method over traditional urine tests. Hair testing triumphs with its superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests spot recent use, hair testing captures a wider window of substance history, offering unmatched benefits for stakeholders keen on maintaining a drug-free environment.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing in Rebersburg, PA, sets it apart from other methods. By covering a span of up to 90 days, this testing provides a broader overview of an individual's drug use history. Employers benefit by gaining a thorough understanding of an applicant or employee's patterns, aiding in better-informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Rebersburg, PA, hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant solution for drug testing. Unlike traditional methods, the risk of sample adulteration is significantly minimized, providing unquestionable results that employers and legal bodies can trust. This ensures integrity and confidence in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers, including local facilities in Rebersburg, PA, our services provide quick and seamless access to hair follicle tests. This ensures a hassle-free experience for individuals and organizations across various locations, enhancing accessibility to reliable testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Rebersburg, PA, a simple and confidential process underpins the hair follicle testing service. From ordering to taking and receiving results, the process ensures privacy and ease. Clients can rely on a seamless experience, eliminating concerns about confidentiality and complexity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Rebersburg, PA, provide excellent value for businesses of any size. Clients appreciate the affordable pricing paired with swift results, enhancing both budget efficiency and operational peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test is renowned for its precision and speed in detecting drug use in Rebersburg, PA. With its high accuracy, it serves as an effective means of unearthing substance abuse. Employment and rehabilitation entities can depend on these tests for rapid results, making informed decisions faster and effortlessly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Rebersburg, PA, enhances compliance with workplace drug-free policies, granting employers peace of mind by reducing legal risks. The method fortifies workplace safety, ensuring a compliant environment for businesses and their employees.

Drug Testing Near Rebersburg, PA

Blanchard, PA

Mill Hall, PA

Eagleville, PA

Mingoville, PA

Loganton, PA

Rote, PA

Spring Mills, PA

Hublersburg, PA

Nittany, PA

Woodward, PA

Coburn, PA

Madisonburg, PA

Millheim, PA

Tylersville, PA

Aaronsburg, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews