Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sewickley Heights, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly regarded as an effective means for detecting substance and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and drug activity by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can present approximately a three-month period for alcohol and drug detection. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair sample consisting of roughly 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp equates to 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analysis, or beyond 10-panel tests, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, this specifically means scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result typically involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional record input not already provided by an electronic custody chain system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid check for drugs. Although it's an economical means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result in Screening must be confirmed to be legally valid. All samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening need secondary confirmation.

When a sample shows a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations much lower than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging method.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair mandate and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can discern drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests cover a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to deceive: Hair drug tests are very challenging to fake, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Yields historical insights: It can reveal patterns of drug use over time, unlike recent use alone.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is usually pricier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair hue and individual hair growth variations can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Sewickley Heights, PA, hair follicle testing clearly surpasses traditional urine testing in many ways. Its unmatched detection accuracy and reliability provide substantial advantages.

Hair tests offer a clearer picture of substance history compared to urine tests. The precision and reliability during testing ensure a significant edge in drug detection.

Employers in Sewickley Heights, PA favor hair follicle testing due to its superior detection capabilities over urine tests. This provides an accurate and thorough assessment of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Sewickley Heights, PA uncovers drug use over a longer period. This comprehensive review supports employers in assessing applicant histories.

Hair follicle tests detect drug use over up to 90 days, offering businesses in Sewickley Heights, PA detailed insights into an employee’s substance history.

The longer detection period of hair follicle testing provides a thorough view into an employee's past substance use, ensuring transparent evaluations in Sewickley Heights, PA.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Sewickley Heights, PA, hair follicle tests minimize sample tampering risks significantly. The secure and reliable method provides assured results that remain unchallenged.

Hair follicle testing stands out for its tamper-resistant nature, ensuring results are reliable and undisputed in Sewickley Heights, PA.

This method reduces risks of adulteration, providing unquestioned trustworthiness in results, a crucial factor for many in Sewickley Heights, PA.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key in Sewickley Heights, PA with nationwide testing centers, allowing swift and easy access to hair follicle testing services.

Nationwide and local testing locations provide hassle-free access to necessary services, offering unparalleled convenience in Sewickley Heights, PA.

With accessible testing centers across the nation, individuals in Sewickley Heights, PA benefit from straightforward and efficient service access.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple, confidential process of hair follicle testing in Sewickley Heights, PA ensures privacy and ease, addressing any concerns one might have.

From ordering to testing, the straightforward, discreet process in Sewickley Heights, PA guarantees that privacy is respected, making it user-friendly.

Those in Sewickley Heights, PA can expect a seamless experience when engaging in the confidential hair follicle testing process, which prioritizes ease and privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Sewickley Heights, PA, competitive pricing combined with a fast turnaround ensures excellent value for hair follicle testing.

Quick results paired with reasonable pricing make hair testing in Sewickley Heights, PA accessible for businesses of any size.

Affordable pricing structures and swift result delivery set Sewickley Heights, PA apart in providing high-value hair follicle testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Sewickley Heights, PA, hair follicle testing offers unparalleled precision and promptness in drug detection. The method’s accuracy is unmatched, swiftly identifying substance use history.

Hair follicle tests deliver quick and reliable results, ensuring a high standard of precision in detecting various substances. This speed and accuracy make it a preferred choice.

For those seeking efficient drug testing, hair follicle tests in Sewickley Heights, PA guarantee fast and accurate results. The method's reliability in detecting substance use makes it superior.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Sewickley Heights, PA, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing thanks to its compliance assurance. This method supports drug-free workplace policies and mitigates legal risks.

Using hair follicle tests, employers adhere to drug-free policies, promoting safety and reducing liabilities in Sewickley Heights, PA.

In Sewickley Heights, PA, hair follicle testing ensures companies maintain drug policy compliance, thus creating a secure 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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