Hair Follicle Drug Testing - South Temple, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has risen in prominence as an effective means for uncovering instances of drug and alcohol consumption. By retaining biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair, hair offers a retrospective account of alcohol and drug use. When gathered near the scalp, hair can present an approximate detection window of up to three months for alcohol and other substances. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and transportation is convenient.

An optimal sample for both screening and confirmation is a 1.5-inch segment comprising about 200 hair strands (resembling the thickness of a #2 pencil), yielding 100mg of hair. For EtG tests, additional panels, or panels exceeding 10, a sample of 150mg is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample with a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equal quantity of body hair might be used. The term head hair pertains exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory process of evaluating a drug test result encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the stage of entering a sample into the lab’s framework. This involves checking that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening acts as an initial rapid assessment for substance misuse. While it serves as a cost-effective method to eliminate drug usage in most cases, a positive result in Screening must be verified for legal admissibility. Samples that show presumptive positivity require further confirmation.

For a specimen tagged as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. In this step, substances are derived from hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), explaining why hair drug screening is a complex process to execute.

Confirmation of any initial positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens undergo washing prior to confirmation if necessary. Every step of the lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards for accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Drug use up to 90 days can be identified with hair drug tests, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection period.
• High resistance to falsification: Tampering with results of a hair drug test is extremely difficult, enhancing result reliability.
• Longitudinal data: Hair tests can map a pattern of substance use over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Recent usage undetectable: There is a lag of about 5-7 days for substances to appear in hair samples.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug testing incurs higher costs compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth may influence drug metabolite concentrations within the hair.

Note: Despite the common reference as "hair follicle tests", these tests actually analyze the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Prevails in South Temple, PA

In South Temple, PA, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests with its superior accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair testing offers an extended detection window, making it difficult to deceive. This makes it the go-to option for employers aiming for precise and trustworthy drug testing outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

Long-Term Detection in South Temple, PA

Employers in South Temple, PA, benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing, covering up to 90 days of substance history. This comprehensive overview helps employers assess an applicant or employee's long-term drug use, supporting informed hiring and workforce decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Tamper-Resistant Testing in South Temple, PA

One of the standout features of hair follicle testing is its resistance to tampering. In South Temple, PA, this ensures that employers receive accurate and uncontaminated results, minimizing the risk of manipulated samples and offering unwavering reliability in drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Access Across South Temple, PA

Accredited Drug Testing offers a network of easily accessible testing centers nationwide, including local options in South Temple, PA. This widespread availability simplifies the testing process, allowing clients to access services promptly and without hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

Streamlined and Private Testing Process in South Temple, PA

The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving results from hair follicle tests is straightforward and confidential. In South Temple, PA, clients can rest assured of their privacy, thanks to a secure and user-friendly process that places confidentiality at the forefront.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective and Swift Testing Solutions in South Temple, PA

Our competitive pricing paired with rapid turnaround times present excellent value for businesses of all sizes in South Temple, PA. These affordable solutions support organizations in maintaining schedules while managing costs effectively, ensuring peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Speedy and Reliable Testing in South Temple, PA

In the realm of drug testing, precision and speed are paramount. Hair follicle testing excels by providing results that are both fast and accurate. This method stands out for its ability to detect substance use efficiently, making it a preferred choice for companies seeking reliable drug screening solutions in South Temple, PA.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance for South Temple Employers

For South Temple, PA businesses, hair follicle testing supports workplace policies on drug-free environments. This method ensures compliance, mitigates legal risks, and fosters safer work settings by accurately identifying substance use over a considerable timeline.

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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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