Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shavertown, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a robust method for detecting alcohol and drug consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of drug and alcohol intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair offers up to roughly a 90-day detection period for substances. Hair collection is straightforward, moderately resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp equivalates to 100mg of hair, which is the optimum quantity for verification and testing. For tests of EtG, further evaluations, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is suggested. It's advisable to measure the specimen utilizing a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an identical quantity of body hair can be gathered. Note that head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair is all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result is comprised of four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial introduction of a sample into the laboratory’s workflow. This step ensures that the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening performs a preliminary assessment to identify drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical means to exclude substance usage for most samples, a positive result in Screening requires validation to be deemed admissible legally. Any samples flagged as presumptively positive in Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation process.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive result, additional hair from the initial sample is prepared for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted from the hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation for any positive Screening outcomes utilizes methods such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo pre-confirmation washing as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory processing from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specifications and is accredited 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, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection period.
• Resistant to manipulation: Attempting to cheat a hair drug test is challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals historical usage patterns: It reflects drug usage over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It takes roughly 5-7 days before drugs are traceable in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests generally carry a higher expense compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can alter drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test scrutinizes the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Shavertown, PA, hair follicle testing emerges as a superior choice compared to traditional urine tests. Hair testing provides increased detection accuracy and reliability.
This method enables the identification of substances consumed over an extended period, unlike urine tests with shorter detection capabilities.
It ensures a robust understanding of an individual's drug use history, crucial for informed decisions by employers and legal entities.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing, up to 90 days, is a key advantage for employers in Shavertown, PA. This method offers a thorough understanding of an applicant or employee's drug history.
Compared to shorter-term detection of urine tests, hair analysis gives employers a comprehensive overview, aiding in making better hiring and supervision decisions.
Such extensive detection ensures detailed substance use insights.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Shavertown, PA, significantly mitigate the risks of sample tampering, offering reliable results.
Unlike other methods, hair tests are difficult to adulterate, ensuring the integrity of the testing process.
This tamper-resistant characteristic delivers indisputable findings, crucial for maintaining workplace safety and compliance with drug-free policies.
Employers can trust these results for accurate evaluation of substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Shavertown, PA, our nationwide testing centers offer exceptional convenience for conducting hair follicle tests. With our centers spread across numerous locations, accessing testing services is straightforward and hassle-free.
This easy accessibility guarantees quick tests whenever required, making it seamless for employers and individuals to conduct necessary testing.
The network supports reliable service delivery across the nation.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Shavertown, PA, is both simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is streamlined for ease of use.
This confidentiality assures participants of privacy concerns, enhancing the acceptability of the testing protocol.
The seamless procedure facilitates a straightforward experience, ensuring user-friendly interaction from initial request to receiving results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Shavertown, PA, offers excellent value for businesses. Our structure ensures affordability for companies of all sizes, aligning with budget requirements.
Quick processing further provides reassurance through prompt results, enhancing decision-making efficiency.
Such affordability and speed highlight the method's appeal for cost-effective drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Shavertown, PA, hair follicle drug testing offers results that are both fast and precise, ensuring a high standard of reliability. Hair tests excel in identifying substance use with remarkable accuracy.
Employers benefit immensely from this method as it provides a dependable means to assess substance use, crucial in maintaining workplace standards.
Quick processing times ensure timely information, making this method strategically viable for critical decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug policies in Shavertown, PA, promoting peace of mind for employers. This testing method assists in adhering to legal standards, reducing risks associated with drug use in the workplace.
Employers benefit from enhanced safety and reduced liability, making it a strategic move to integrate hair testing in drug policy enforcement.
Compliance ensures integrity in workplace operations.

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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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