Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Riegelsville, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is considered a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended timeline of drug presence by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, it can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to gather, challenging to alter, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch cut of approximately 200 hairs (roughly the thickness of a pencil) from the scalp is optimal, weighing about 100mg, for initial and confirmatory tests. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding ten panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. The specimen should ideally be weighed using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, body hair of equal mass can be used. "Head hair" refers strictly to scalp hair. "Body hair" includes all other hair types (face, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal steps in lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves initially entering a sample into a laboratory’s system. This involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a quick preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although it is an economical method to dismiss drug usage for most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening need further Confirmation.

When a sample shows presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the initial lot for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making this method the most challenging to execute.

Confirmation of any positive result from screening is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are washed before Confirmation as necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the complete laboratory process is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug usage for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to tamper with: It is extremely difficult to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides usage trends: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Delayed recent use detection: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier compared to other drug testing methods.
• Outcome variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth patterns can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests," it actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Riegelsville, PA, hair follicle testing is proving to be superior to urine testing for several reasons. Firstly, hair tests offer a longer detection window, catching drug use patterns up to 90 days compared to urine tests' few days. This makes them ideal for employers aiming for a broader understanding of an applicant's drug history.

Secondly, hair testing is less intrusive and virtually impossible to cheat, providing reliable results that urine tests, which can sometimes be tampered with, may not consistently offer. This enhances the credibility of the results significantly.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Riegelsville, PA, offers unmatched insight into an individual's substance use. Extending up to 90 days, it enables employers to gain a thorough understanding of an individual’s drug history, far beyond the limited days offered by other testing methods.

This wider window is especially useful for maintaining a safe and compliant work environment, where long-term substance use trends need analysis and assessment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Riegelsville, PA, sets a higher standard for reliable results due to its robust, tamper-resistant nature. Compared to urine tests, which may sometimes be manipulated, hair tests provide assurance against sample adulteration.

This method ensures the integrity of drug test results, offering employers and legal entities peace of mind in knowing the outcomes are both reliable and difficult to contest.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key with our extensive network of testing locations, including those in Riegelsville, PA. Accredited Drug Testing makes it easy and hassle-free to access drug testing services wherever you are, thanks to our nationwide reach.

Local centers ensure quick processing and personal service, helping you meet your testing needs with minimal disruption to your routine. This widespread availability ensures testing is both convenient and accessible.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Riegelsville, PA, is designed to be straightforward and confidential, addressing concerns about privacy and ease of use. Ordering, participating in, and receiving results from hair follicle testing is simple and geared towards minimal fuss.

Confidential handling of all aspects of the process ensures that your privacy is respected at every step, providing peace of mind throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Benefit from our affordable pricing options and swift turnaround times in Riegelsville, PA. We offer competitive pricing structures that provide excellent value across multiple scales, from small businesses to large corporations.

Our efficient processes ensure that you receive results promptly, allowing for timely employment or legal decisions, reinforcing our commitment to providing excellent service without compromising cost-effectiveness.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Experience the unmatched accuracy and speed of hair follicle drug testing in Riegelsville, PA. This method provides rapid and precise detection of substance use, distinguishing itself with high levels of accuracy over traditional testing forms.

The precision of hair follicle tests ensures confident results, often with a quick turnaround time. This allows for timely decision-making, which can be critical in employment and legal proceedings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Riegelsville, PA, gain peace of mind and ensure compliance by incorporating hair follicle testing into their drug-free policies. This testing method significantly reduces the risk of legal issues, safeguarding companies with its reliable results and straightforward procedures.

Moreover, it supports a safer and more productive workplace, aligning with zero-tolerance policies and minimizing substance-related incidents effectively.

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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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