Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Silverdale, PA

What it is, How it works

Using hair testing has emerged as a robust method for detecting the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair retains a long-lasting record of alcohol and other drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising approximately 200 hairs (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp will yield 100mg, which is the preferred sample size for screening and validation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen is recommended. In cases where scalp hair is unobtainable, a similar amount of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial processing phase where a sample is integrated into a laboratory's system. This step ensures that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary assessment to detect drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to identify non-use in a majority of cases, it is imperative to confirm a positive result for legal admissibility. Therefore, any samples with presumptive positive results require secondary confirmation.

When a sample registers a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most challenging method to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcomes is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positives are cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use up to 90 days, which is longer than the detection period for urine tests.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is considerably difficult, thus the results are more dependable.
• Historic data provision: This test provides a record of drug usage over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Expenditure: Hair drug tests are typically more costly compared to alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Silverdale, PA, hair follicle testing is rapidly advancing as a superior alternative to urine tests. One of the key advantages is its robust detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, which identify drugs only during recent use, hair testing offers insights into prolonged usage scenarios. The reliability and comprehensive nature of hair follicle tests offer unparalleled peace of mind for decision-makers.

Hair drug testing in Silverdale, PA, stands out due to its long detection history. Traditional urine tests often fall short in comparison, providing a limited substance use picture. Emphasizing superior accuracy, hair analysis ensures a broader detection window, promoting a more thorough understanding of a subject's substance habits.

Extended Detection Window

For Silverdale, PA employers, hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage with its comprehensive 90-day drug detection window. This extensive timeframe provides a much clearer view of past substance usage compared to other methods such as urine testing, demonstrating an individual's historical drug habits effectively.

Hair testing's ability to trace drug use over three months is invaluable in Silverdale, PA. By examining the hair, employers can access a detailed substance use history of employees or applicants, ensuring informed decisions regarding hiring or continued employment. The extended detection window supports robust workplace safety policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Silverdale, PA, hair follicle testing is a favored choice for its resistance to tampering. Unlike traditional methods, hair tests are significantly less prone to sample adulteration, offering results that are both reliable and indisputable. This integrity is crucial in maintaining trust in the testing process.

Silverdale, PA, benefits from the security hair follicle tests provide. Their design inhibits potential interference, guaranteeing accurate and genuine results. This ensures employers and organizations can rely on the test outcomes, bolstering their confidence in maintaining a drug-free environment.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With nationwide testing centers, including in Silverdale, PA, Accredited Drug Testing offers unmatched convenience and accessibility. Our extensive network ensures rapid and hassle-free testing services, meeting local needs efficiently and supporting a stress-free experience for all clients.

Silverdale, PA, and beyond benefit from our broad testing reach. With centers situated across the country, we facilitate easy access to essential drug testing services, eliminating travel concerns, and enhancing the overall convenience of obtaining accurate and timely results.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Silverdale, PA, the process for hair follicle testing is both straightforward and private. Whether ordering or receiving results, the procedure maintains strict confidentiality, ensuring peace of mind for users while prioritizing ease of use throughout every step.

Customers in Silverdale, PA, value the simple, confidential nature of our hair testing process. By safeguarding information and streamlining procedures, clients enjoy a smooth experience from start to finish, with assured privacy and prompt result delivery.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and quick results in Silverdale, PA, make hair follicle testing an attractive option for companies nationwide. We deliver high value and efficiency without sacrificing performance, ensuring all organizations can maintain exemplary substance testing standards.

Silverdale, PA, clients appreciate the affordability and rapid turnaround of our drug testing services. By providing excellent value and reliable outcomes, we cater to businesses of all sizes, safeguarding their commitment to a drug-free workplace at a reasonable cost.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Silverdale, PA, benefits from the swift and precise accuracy of hair follicle drug testing. This method is renowned for its ability to identify substance use efficiently, ensuring results that are both dependable and quick. By choosing hair testing, individuals and businesses gain access to top-tier accuracy that tracks use over an extended timeframe.

The precision of hair follicle testing in Silverdale, PA, guarantees that any instances of drug use are detected well past the capabilities of traditional tests. This accuracy provides both peace of mind and reliable data about an individual's substance use, making it a preferred choice for many organizations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Silverdale, PA, achieve peace of mind and policy compliance with hair follicle testing. By choosing this method, companies align with drug-free workplace initiatives, thus reducing legal risks and enhancing safety, ultimately fostering a secure and responsible work environment.

Hair follicle testing supports Silverdale, PA businesses in maintaining policy adherence. Aiding in avoiding legal complications, these tests ensure organizations remain compliant with regulations, cultivating a workplace free from substance abuse-related incidents.

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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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