Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shoemakersville, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is widely recognized as an effective method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair serves as a record of prolonged usage by embedding markers within the strands of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer up to nearly a 3-month detection period for substances such as alcohol and other drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprised of approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect quantity for both initial tests and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. Should there be a lack of scalp hair, an equal amount of body hair may be utilized. Usage of the term head hair specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The procedure for processing a drug test result within the lab involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

The phase of Accessioning includes the initial logging of a specimen into the laboratory's system. This phase ensures the sample is correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data entries not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

In the Screening phase, there's an initial assessment to identify drugs of abuse. Screening serves as a cost-efficient way to discount drug presence in most samples, but a screen indicating positive requires validation to be considered courtworthy. Samples that are presumed positive by Screening must undergo further verification.

When a sample tests as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample to prepare for the Extraction stage. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to the complexity of hair drug tests.

Any positive results from the Screening stage undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed to be positive are cleansed before confirmation if needed. The laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests offer a detection timeframe of up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter timeframe.
• High resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, resulting in higher accuracy.
• Tracks drug trends: These tests can show patterns of drug usage over extended periods, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent detection: Drugs require about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair samples.
• Price: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier compared to other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair pigmentation and personal hair growth differences can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests," the procedure evaluates the hair strand rather than the sub-scalp hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Shoemakersville, PA, hair follicle testing clearly outperforms traditional urine analysis. One key advantage is its longer detection window, which provides a more comprehensive drug use history. In contrast, urine tests often miss patterns of use preceding a five-day window, limiting their reliability.

Moreover, hair tests offer enhanced accuracy as substances get embedded in hair, bypassing the limitations urine tests face with fluctuations in body hydration levels affecting metabolite concentration.

• Greater reliability in drug detection.
• Avoids manipulation and dilution risks.

Extended Detection Window

Shoemakersville, PA benefits greatly from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing, which captures a vast history of drug use. With a capacity to detect drugs consumed up to 90 days prior, this method offers a more comprehensive view of an individual's substance habits.

Such a wide detection period facilitates better-informed decisions, allowing employers to evaluate the long-term patterns instead of isolated incidents when screening for drug use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in Shoemakersville, PA significantly minimizes the risk of sample tampering. Unlike urine tests, which are vulnerable to dilution or substitution, hair tests offer a virtually foolproof collection process.

With this approach, results are reliable, securing the integrity of the sample from collection to analysis, making it the preferred choice for ensuring genuine outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With easy access to convenient testing centers, Shoemakersville, PA residents benefit from local and nationwide locations for hair follicle testing. Accredited Drug Testing offers quick, hassle-free access to their services, making testing efficient.

Whether locally or nationwide, our facilities ensure consistent service and access to testing for organizations and individuals, facilitating seamless testing processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing in Shoemakersville, PA streamlines hair follicle testing to ensure a simple, confidential process. From ordering to receiving results, the procedure is straightforward, meeting privacy concerns.

By focusing on user-friendly steps, Accredited Drug Testing ensures that clients experience a hassle-free process, prioritizing both ease of use and confidentiality in every interaction.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Shoemakersville, PA, affordable pricing structures for hair follicle testing ensure cost-effective solutions without compromising quality. Quickly processed results offer significant value for businesses of all sizes.

Accredited Drug Testing provides competitive rates along with fast turnaround times, allowing companies to conduct drug screenings efficiently while managing budgets effectively.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Shoemakersville, PA deliver results that are precise and prompt. These tests are renowned for their high accuracy in uncovering substance use, ensuring that the detection of drugs is not only swift but reliable. The streamlined process aids in quick decision-making for employers and concerned parties, ensuring timely responses to potential issues.

Compared to other methods, the accuracy of hair follicle drug tests avoids false negatives and boosts confidence in the results. With the capability of identifying a wider array of substances, these tests prove to be a superior choice for detecting drug use, making them an invaluable tool.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Shoemakersville, PA, utilizing hair follicle testing ensures employers' adherence to strict, drug-free workplace policies, providing legal assurance and fostering a safer working environment.

This testing method reduces legal liabilities associated with erroneous testing results, delivering peace of mind. Companies benefit by mitigating the risks of accidents and productivity loss related to drug use.

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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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