Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sankertown, PA

What it is, How it works

The detection of drug and alcohol use through hair testing has gained recognition for its effectiveness. Hair collects biomarkers in its fibers, providing an extended history of substance use. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to three months for drugs and alcohol. The collection of hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient for transportation.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches of around 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, ideal for both screening and confirmation. For tests like EtG, additional panels exceeding ten, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for specimen measurement. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair is an acceptable alternative. References to head hair specifically denote scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types including facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test result in the laboratory involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step in entering a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process involves confirming the sample's secure sealing and shipment, allotting a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary examination for drug substances. Although cost-effective for initial drug use evaluation on most samples, a positive Screening must be confirmed for legal proceedings. Samples identified as positive in Screening need additional confirmation.

When a Screening yields a presumptive positive result, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for processing in Extraction. During Extraction, substances are derived from hair at lower concentrations than other techniques (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method.

Confirmation of positive Screening results is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo a washing process before Confirmation, as necessary. The entire course from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards of accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal substance use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with limited detection periods.
• Challenging to manipulate: Hair drug tests are not easily manipulated, ensuring more precise results.
• Records historical usage: It maps drug utilization over a timeline, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Recent usage detection limitation: Drugs require about 5-7 days to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically costlier than other testing procedures.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Triumphs Over Urine Testing: In Sankertown, PA, hair testing is preferred due to superior detection capabilities and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair testing captures a more extensive history of use, making it the top choice for accurate screening.

Employers looking for the most reliable detection method find hair tests invaluable. They offer a greater detection window and are significantly harder to manipulate compared to urine tests, ensuring an honest and thorough evaluation.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Windows Provide Insight: Hair follicle testing in Sankertown, PA, reveals drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days. This gives employers a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history.

Employers benefit from the intricate insights hair follicle tests offer. The prolonged detection period extends beyond the capabilities of other tests, ensuring a more thorough understanding of an individual's drug history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Unyielding Tamper Resistance: Hair follicle testing in Sankertown, PA, offers robust resistance against sample tampering. This ensures reliable and unquestionable test outcomes.

The integrity of hair testing lies in its resistance to manipulation. It presents results that are difficult to adulterate, providing absolute confidence and validity to stakeholders involved in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience with Nationwide and Local Testing Centers: In Sankertown, PA, we present a network of centers offering quick and effortless access to hair follicle testing facilities, ensuring a seamless testing experience.

The strategic location of our testing centers nationwide ensures that the testing process is convenient and accessible, offering an ease of use unparalleled by other services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Effortless and Confidential Testing Process: In Sankertown, PA, our testing methodology is straightforward and respects privacy, ensuring a confidential process from ordering to result delivery.

Participants experience a smooth journey from the initial request to the reception of results, with confidentiality maintained throughout, addressing possible privacy concerns effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing Meets Fast Turnaround: In Sankertown, PA, we offer cost-effective pricing and swift result delivery, providing substantial value and security for enterprises of varying scales.

With rapid turnaround and attractive pricing, our services cater to businesses seeking economical yet dependable drug testing solutions, enhancing workplace value substantially.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Experience Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results: In Sankertown, PA, hair follicle testing stands out with its precision and rapid turnaround time. This testing method provides accurate detection of substance use, surpassing traditional testing methods in reliability.

Accuracy is a hallmark of hair tests, ensuring that substance use is detected with high precision. The swift processing time further enhances the reliability of results, making it an ideal choice for timely and dependable drug screening.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Achieve Compliance and Peace of Mind: For employers in Sankertown, PA, opting for hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace mandates, mitigating legal challenges and bolstering safety.

This testing method fortifies workplace compliance with drug policies, reducing legal liabilities while promoting a secure, drug-free environment, enhancing overall organizational well-being.

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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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