Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Robesonia, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a detailed history of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection timeline of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil size) adjacent to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the ideal amount for evaluation and verification. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or exams exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When speaking of head hair, this specifically means scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary phases in the laboratory analysis of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This step verifies the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entries not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to largely eliminate drug usage, a positive screen must be verified to be accepted in legal proceedings. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require a further confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to carry out.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleansed before confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the 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, as opposed to urine tests with a limited detection period.
• Cheating is difficult: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Delivers historical insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair around 5-7 days after use.
• Cost factor: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Diverse results: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth variances can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Robesonia, PA opts for hair follicle tests over urine methods due to their exceptional accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair tests can highlight drug use with higher precision and less chance of falsifying results. Furthermore, the wide detection window offers a clearer picture of an individual's substance involvement, giving it an edge over the more traditional urine methodology.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Robesonia, PA is lauded for its ability to present a lengthy detection window. Spanning up to 90 days, this method provides a broader understanding of drug use history, granting employers insights into an individual's long-term habits, beyond what urine tests can typically offer. This comprehensive view is crucial for informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Robesonia, PA benefits from the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing. Once a sample is collected in a controlled environment, altering it becomes nearly impossible, offering a high level of reliability. This integrity in testing reinforces trust in the results, addressing potential pitfalls often found in other testing methods, particularly urine tests.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our widespread testing network, including Robesonia, PA, guarantees convenience. With numerous centers scattered across the nation, accessing testing services becomes a streamlined endeavor, offering quick, effortless, and seamless access. This network simplifies the logistics of testing, making it easily accessible for businesses and individuals alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing procedure in Robesonia, PA focuses on simplicity and confidentiality. By streamlining the ordering, sampling, and results processes, it ensures privacy and ease for users. Addressing concerns swiftly, it caters to those apprehensive about discretion and procedure. This user-centric focus promises reassurance and comfort throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Robesonia, PA, our pricing structure remains competitive, while maintaining rapid result times for hair follicle testing. This affordability, mixed with speedy delivery, offers unmatched value, catering to companies of varying scales. By providing cost-effective and efficient services, businesses receive exceptional quality without compromising their budget.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Robesonia, PA, hair follicle drug tests are synonymous with reliability. Their swift results, paired with unparalleled accuracy, make them the gold standard for substance detection. Speed and precision in hair testing exceed expectations, ensuring that residents and entities receive the most trustworthy outcomes swiftly. This secures confidence in the data provided by the tests.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Robesonia, PA provides employer peace of mind by ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This method minimizes legal risk, enhances safety, and guarantees thorough compliance. Robust test procedures support policy enforcement, paving the way for a secure and drug-free working 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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