Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Soudersburg, PA

What it is, How it works

The examination of hair has become recognized as an effective method for uncovering the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair serves as a record of past alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken from near the scalp, hair can offer an approximately 3-month period for detection of alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not an option, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. When referring to head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair refers to other hair types like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The drug testing process in a laboratory involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a sample into the laboratory's system. This process ensures the sample was sealed and transmitted correctly, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and carries out any necessary data entries not completed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient means to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive screening outcome must be verified to be permissible in legal proceedings. Any samples that test positive in screening need further confirmation.

If a sample shows a positive result in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this step, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), accounting for the complexity of performing hair drug screening.

The verification of any positive screening results is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating preliminary positive results undergo washing as necessary before confirmation. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use spanning up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter detection period of urine tests.
• High resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, thus increasing result precision.
• Tracks usage trends: It provides a record of drug consumption patterns over time, not merely recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to spot recent consumption: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Potential result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal variations in hair growth might impact the level of drug metabolites present in the hair.

Note: The test, frequently referred to as "hair follicle tests," actually analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Choosing hair follicle testing over urine tests in Soudersburg, PA is advantageous due to its superior detection capabilities. This method boasts an extensive detection window and delivers greater accuracy, providing a more reliable assessment of substance use.

Advantages:

• Longer detection period
• Reduced risk of tampering
• Collection under observation
• Higher accuracy over urine tests

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Soudersburg, PA offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, far surpassing traditional methods. This prolonged period presents a comprehensive view of one's substance use history.

By capturing this extended timeframe, employers gain deeper insights into drug use patterns, allowing for more informed decisions regarding candidate or employee actions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the key benefits of hair follicle testing in Soudersburg, PA is its resilience against tampering. As a non-invasive method, it significantly lowers the risk of sample manipulation, safeguarding the integrity of test results.

The robustness of hair testing ensures that results are not only reliable but also indisputable, providing a high level of assurance in substance use detection.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient testing locations nationwide, including in Soudersburg, PA. Our widespread centers facilitate easy access to drug testing services.

The ability to undergo testing at numerous locations ensures a hassle-free experience, making it swift and convenient for both individuals and employers.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Soudersburg, PA, the process for hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential, from ordering to obtaining results. Privacy is maintained throughout, ensuring user comfort and trust in the process.

The simplicity of the procedure, combined with its discreet nature, alleviates concerns about personal privacy and the cumbersome nature of traditional testing methods.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Soudersburg, PA is committed to offering competitive pricing combined with rapid test turnaround times, providing high value and reassurance for businesses regardless of size.

Our affordable pricing models ensure that all companies have access to reliable and prompt testing services, enhancing overall workplace management and safety.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Soudersburg, PA, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their fast and highly accurate results. These tests offer unparalleled precision in identifying substance abuse, ensuring that the results are both swift and trustworthy.

By employing cutting-edge technology, hair follicle testing delivers quick, reliable outcomes that enable timely decision-making. The accuracy of these tests guarantees confidence in the detection of drug and alcohol use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Soudersburg, PA employers, hair follicle testing offers peace of mind by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method minimizes legal risks and promotes a safer work environment.

Utilizing hair testing exemplifies an organization's commitment to a drug-free workplace, enhancing both safety and security for all employees.

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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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