Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Seven Valleys, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a prolonged record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing strand. When sampled near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and other substances. It is easy to collect, not easily tampered with, and simple to transport.

An ideal screening and confirmation require a 1.5-inch section with about 200 strands (equivalent to the width of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, providing 100mg of hair. For EtG, enhancements, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Use a jeweler’s scale to accurately weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a matching amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory method for analyzing a drug test result comprises four essential steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of integrating a sample into a lab's workflow. This stage ensures the sample was securely sealed and correctly shipped, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfills any outstanding data entry tasks absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening performs a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is inexpensive and rules out drug use in most cases, a confirmed result is necessary for legal purposes. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening demand additional confirmation.

Presumptive positives from Screening result in further hair extraction from the original sample and preparation for Extraction. Here, substances are extracted from hair at a concentration much lower than methods like urine or oral fluid, highlighting hair drug screening as the most challenging method to conduct.

The Confirmation process for any positive screen is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if required. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire lab process is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Challenging to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is highly difficult, ensuring more dependable outcomes.
• Reveals historical usage: It provides a chronological pattern of drug usage over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the sub-scalp hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Seven Valleys, PA, hair follicle testing holds distinct advantages over urine tests. While urine tests detect recent substance use, hair tests offer superior reliability and a more extensive detection period. This method offers unprecedented accuracy, ensuring that substance use is identified with great precision.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Seven Valleys, PA extend the detection window to cover up to 90 days, offering employers a more thorough understanding of an applicant's or employee's drug use history. This extensive evaluation period provides a clear, prolonged view into past substance utilization.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Seven Valleys, PA, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests provides substantial advantages. Their rigorous procedure minimizes adulteration risks, ensuring authentic results and offering a trustworthy solution for drug screening needs.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide network of testing centers, including in Seven Valleys, PA, offers unparalleled convenience, enabling easy access to drug screening services. This wide-reaching availability ensures a hassle-free testing experience for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplicity and confidentiality are at the core of our testing process in Seven Valleys, PA. From ordering to completing tests and receiving results, the entire operation maintains privacy and ease, respecting the client's needs and security.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Seven Valleys, PA, we emphasize affordable pricing and speedy results. Our rapid turnaround times and competitive costs deliver significant value, accommodating businesses of any size with efficiency and reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

An essential aspect of hair follicle testing in Seven Valleys, PA, is its swift and precise results. This testing method is highly reliable in identifying substance use, delivering quick outcomes thanks to its advanced technology. For those requiring accurate assessments of substance usage, hair follicle tests provide unmatched accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Seven Valleys, PA gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, securing compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method minimizes legal risks and advances workplace safety by reliably confirming adherence to substance use standards.

Drug Testing Near Seven Valleys, PA

York, PA

North York, PA

Shrewsbury, PA

Railroad, PA

Dallastown, PA

Queens Gate, PA

Queen, PA

Tyler Run-Queens Gate, PA

Tyler Run, PA

Spry, PA

Grantley, PA

Spring Grove, PA

Glen Rock, PA

Jacobus, PA

Loganville, 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