Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Southampton, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures long-term evidence of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected at the scalp, hair may offer a detection window of approximately three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the prime amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplemental analyses, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. It is advisable to determine the specimen's weight using a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a comparable quantity of body hair can be collected. In discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair solely. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key phases in the laboratory analysis of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial input of a sample into the laboratory system. This step entails confirming the sample was correctly sealed and mailed, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from the electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary rapid check for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method for ruling out drug use in the majority of samples, a positive result in Screening must be verified to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples yielding a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

For any sample showing a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In the Extraction phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in alternate methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), which underscores why hair drug testing is regarded as the most challenging method.

Verification of any positive result from Screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples with a presumptive positive outcome are cleansed before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory protocol from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation as well as the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug assessments can detect drug consumption for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating on a hair drug test is challenging, thus enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical data: It reveals a pattern of drug consumption over time, not only recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can alter the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests", the test focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Southampton, PA, hair follicle tests offer numerous advantages over traditional urine tests. Their superior detection accuracy makes them a preferred choice for many organizations. By detecting drug use up to 90 days, hair tests provide a more comprehensive view.

Urine tests, while useful for recent drug use detection, fall short in terms of reliability. Hair follicle testing prevails due to its difficulty to cheat, making it an ideal option for precise and trustworthy evaluations.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing's extended detection window is a major benefit for employers in Southampton, PA. Capable of identifying substance use up to 90 days prior, this method presents a thorough account of an individual’s drug history.

Providing a prolonged review period, hair testing allows employers to make informed decisions about applicants or employees, surpassing traditional methods with its lengthier detection times.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method significantly reducing risks of sample adulteration in Southampton, PA. This approach ensures reliable outcomes, virtually eliminating the potential for altering results.

Given its secure nature, hair tests protect the integrity of drug screening, providing Southampton employers with indisputable results and maintaining trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers, including local options in Southampton, PA, our services are easy to access. This provides a quick, simple, and hassle-free way to handle your drug testing needs.

Our widespread locations mean that no matter where you are, a testing center is nearby, ensuring that testing is never an inconvenience and always within reach.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Southampton, PA is simple and confidential. Ordering, taking the test, and receiving the results is straightforward, addressing privacy concerns effectively.

Ensuring an easy-to-use process reassures individuals about preserving their privacy, offering peace of mind with every test taken.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Southampton, PA are competitively priced, affirming affordable pricing and fast turnaround, delivering excellent value for businesses.

With quick results and cost-effective pricing, we cater to companies of all sizes, proving that superior detection doesn't have to come at a high financial cost.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results in Southampton, PA. With improved precision and speed, these tests stand out in their ability to detect substance use effectively and provide high accuracy feedback.

The hair testing process is designed to deliver results with exceptional speed, benefiting employers eager to maintain a drug-free environment. Ensuring reliable and comprehensive data, hair tests are unmatched in their capacity to confirm substance presence.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Southampton, PA, using hair follicle tests for drug screening ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal risks, offers peace of mind, and enhances workplace safety.

Adopting hair testing not only meets regulatory requirements but also strengthens the overall security and well-being of an organization. It upholds the standards expected by employers desirous of maintaining strict policy adherence.

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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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