Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Renningers, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It can capture a long-term record of substance use by trapping biomarkers within the hairs as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair can reflect drug and alcohol usage for up to roughly three months. It is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) from the scalp, yields 100mg, which is the optimal amount needed for both screening and verifying results. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond 10, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample weight. If scalp hair cannot be collected, the equivalent weight of body hair can be used. The term head hair refers specifically to scalp hair; body hair encompasses other types (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four essential steps in the lab processing of drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial integration of a sample into the lab's system. This process verifies whether the sample was sealed and transported accurately, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary examination for drugs of abuse. While it is an economical way to exclude drug use in most samples, any positive result from screening must be confirmed to be valid in legal proceedings. Samples indicating a potential positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If Screening suggests a possible positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluids), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Every positive screening result undergoes Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests offer detection of substance use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have shorter detection periods.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is highly unlikely, leading to more reliable results.
• Records use history: It shows a timeline of substance use over a duration, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent usage: Drugs take around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Differences like hair color and individual hair growth can influence the levels of drug metabolites found in hair.

Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests," the test actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Renningers, PA, hair follicle testing triumphs over urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis can uncover long-term substance use, providing more comprehensive insights into an individual's history.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Renningers, PA, uncovers drug use spanning up to 90 days, unlike shorter periods typical with urine tests. This prolonged detection window aids employers in thoroughly understanding an applicant's or employee's substance use background.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests reduce the likelihood of sample tampering, offering reliable outcomes in Renningers, PA. By using a method nearly impossible to alter, the integrity of results remains intact, ensuring trustworthiness and authenticity in testing results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With an extensive network of testing centers, Renningers, PA residents can enjoy hassle-free access to drug testing services. The convenience of local and nationwide facilities ensures swift and straightforward testing arrangements.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Renningers, PA, the hair follicle testing process is both uncomplicated and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, each step respects privacy while ensuring a user-friendly experience that meets participants' expectations.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Delivering competitive pricing and a swift response time, hair follicle tests in Renningers, PA offer outstanding value. Beneficial for companies of varying sizes, the cost-effectiveness and rapid turnaround provides peace of mind and excellent service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests set them apart in Renningers, PA. This method rapidly yields accurate results, effectively identifying substance use. Results are not just quick but also reliable, providing employers confidence in their hiring processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle tests in Renningers, PA, promotes adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This enhances safety and reduces legal risks, providing employers with peace of mind through compliance and improved work environments.

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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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