Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sharon Hill, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair tests have been recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by trapping biomarkers within the strands of the expanding hair. By collecting hair close to the scalp, one can obtain a detection window of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, containing approximately 200 hairs (around the width of a #2 pencil) from the nearest part of the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the material is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the specimen. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. The term head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the introductory processing of a sample within a lab’s system. This includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial rapid check for substance abuse. Screening is cost-effective for the majority of samples, but those that are positively screened must be confirmed for legal purposes. A positive screen requires follow-up confirmation.

If a sample screens positive, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which is why hair drug testing is a challenging technique to carry out.

Confirmation of a positive screen is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary before confirmation. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair tests can detect drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter window.
• Hard to manipulate: It’s challenging to alter hair drug test results, enhancing accuracy.
• Shares historical data: It provides a usage pattern over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after around 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair can be influenced by hair color and personal growth differences.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis concerns the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair testing in Sharon Hill, PA, outshines traditional urine tests due to its superior detection capabilities. Hair tests identify substances over extended periods, thus offering reliable results.

Employers and other stakeholders benefit from accurate results that hair testing provides, ensuring trustworthy decisions.

Extended Detection Window

In Sharon Hill, PA, hair follicle tests provide an extended detection window that spans up to 90 days, a significant advantage over shorter testing methods.

This lengthy detection period allows employers to observe the comprehensive substance history of applicants or employees, making informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle test method in Sharon Hill, PA, is tamper-resistant, significantly reducing possibilities for manipulation or sample adulteration.

Its reliability ensures that results are unquestionable and accurate, providing peace of mind to employers and stakeholders.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Sharon Hill, PA, our numerous testing centers offer nationwide convenience, facilitating a hassle-free approach to required drug testing.

Clients benefit from local and accessible options that ensure fast and straightforward testing experiences across the area.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Sharon Hill, PA, ensures a simple and confidential procedure for ordering and completing hair follicle tests.

Privacy and ease are prioritized, assuring clients of a straightforward experience from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Sharon Hill, PA, offers affordable pricing and rapid turnaround for hair follicle testing, providing significant value for businesses of all sizes.

Competitive pricing structures ensure cost-effective solutions, granting peace of mind without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Sharon Hill, PA, hair follicle drug testing provides fast and precise results. Their ability to detect substance use with high accuracy makes them a preferred testing method.

Unlike traditional tests, hair follicle tests deliver quick outcomes, ensuring prompt decision-making for all involved parties.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Sharon Hill, PA, hair follicle testing aids compliance with workplace drug-free policies, decreasing legal risks and bolstering workplace safety measures.

Ensuring a drug-free workplace enhances peace of mind for employers, maintaining productivity and employee health standards.

Drug Testing Near Sharon Hill, PA

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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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