Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shippingport, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as a crucial method for spotting drug and alcohol use. Hair holds a prolonged account of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers in the hair strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection interval for alcohol and other substances of up to nearly 3 months. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (this is about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for evaluative and confirmatory purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond 10, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. We advise weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, a comparable amount of body hair can be utilized. In mentioning head hair, it refers solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other hair varieties (face, armpits, etc.).

Process Overview

The four essential phases in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the preliminary processing of a sample in a lab's system. This encompasses confirming the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary swift evaluation for abusively used drugs. Although Screening is economical for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be legally acceptable. Any samples that show presumptive positive results in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample indicates presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most intricate methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All potential positive samples undergo cleaning before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug testing can uncover drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals historical data: It provides a pattern of drug consumption over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Shippingport, PA, the advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests are clear. Hair testing excels in detecting drug usage accurately over long periods, offering a comprehensive portrayal of an individual’s substance history that urine tests simply cannot match.

Unlike traditional urine tests, which have a shorter detection window, hair tests capture a longer span of drug activity. This makes them invaluable for employers and authorities seeking consistent reliability and precision.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Shippingport, PA, features an extended detection window, providing an extensive substance use overview up to 90 days. This long-term detection capability is crucial for employers requiring insight into an employee's or candidate’s history.

Providing a clear understanding of prolonged drug usage, hair testing stands as a comprehensive solution for effective monitoring. For employers and officials, this method ensures informed decisions based on complete historical data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Shippingport, PA, hair follicle testing is a highly tamper-resistant method, significantly reducing the likelihood of sample adulteration. With this secure approach, the results remain reliable and trustworthy, safeguarding against manipulation.

The challenge of cheating is largely mitigated through hair testing’s stringent collection process, providing peace of mind to those utilizing the test for critical decision-making purposes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing centers nationwide, including local sites in Shippingport, PA, make accessing drug testing straightforward and hassle-free. Wherever you are, our facilities are readily available, ensuring convenience for both employers and individuals.

Utilizing extensive nationwide testing locations, Accredited Drug Testing provides unparalleled ease of access, allowing tests to be conducted without unnecessary travel or delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplicity and confidentiality define our process in Shippingport, PA. From ordering to completion, clients can expect an easy and private experience that respects their privacy concerns at every step.

The seamless process ensures that individuals can quickly receive their results without unnecessary complications, making the entire testing journey user-friendly and respectful of personal privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and rapid turnaround characterize our drug testing services in Shippingport, PA. By balancing affordability with efficiency, businesses of any size can benefit from our cost-effective solutions.

Quick results and reasonable prices make our services a smart choice for those needing reliable drug testing solutions without breaking the budget. Businesses enjoy peace of mind, knowing they receive top value.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Shippingport, PA, are remarkable. Their ability to deliver accurate substance detection is unparalleled, ensuring that results reflect true substance use without delay. Hair tests are pivotal for those who value accuracy and reliability in their detection methods.

Recognized for their swift turnaround, shippingport drug testing services guarantee that employers and others receive timely results. The accuracy rate leaves little doubt about substance use history, making it an invaluable tool in occupational safety and compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Shippingport, PA, is a turnkey solution for ensuring compliance with drug-free policies. This clear approach minimizes legal risks and creates a safer workplace environment, offering peace of mind to employers.

By utilizing hair testing, businesses can uphold their drug use policies confidently, knowing they are aligned with regulatory standards and preserving the integrity of their workplace.

Drug Testing Near Shippingport, PA

Davidson Heights, PA

Marion Hill, PA

Fallston, PA

East Rochester, PA

Rochester, PA

Bridgewater, PA

Monaca, PA

New Sheffield, PA

Vanport, PA

Ohioville, PA

Glasgow, PA

Georgetown, PA

Hookstown, PA

Midland, PA

Industry, 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