Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Southwest, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair assessment has evolved into a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures extended timelines of alcohol and drug use by ensnaring biomarkers within the hair strand's growing fibers. A sample collected near the scalp can cover up to roughly a 3-month period for detecting alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is recommended. In cases where scalp hair is lacking, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, it pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other types of hair (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning initiates the integration of a sample into a laboratory's framework. This step encompasses ensuring the sample was sealed and sent accurately, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides an initial swift assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to negate drug use in most samples, a positive screening output must be verified for judicial admissibility. Any samples with a presumptive positive result from Screening require further validation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive result, a portion of the initial sample is extracted and prepped for further analysis. Here, substances are removed from the hair at a much lower density than with other techniques (like urine or oral fluid), which renders hair drug testing among the most complex methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning through to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair drug tests identify drug consumption for as long as 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a limited detection window.
• Hard to evade: Manipulating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Chronological usage insight: It reveals a usage pattern over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Detection in hair takes about 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are pricier compared to other testing methods.
• Result disparities: Variables such as hair color and intrinsic hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although commonly known as “hair follicle tests,” the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Southwest, PA, hair follicle testing outshines urine tests due to its superior detection abilities and reliability. Employers benefit from its extended detection window, capturing drug use traces far beyond the reach of urine tests.

Compared to urine tests, hair follicle methods are virtually cheat-proof, providing a trustworthy solution for companies with stringent no-drug policies. This approach ensures a safer workplace by highlighting long-term patterns of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing in Southwest, PA, allows employers to review an individual’s substance history over the past 90 days. Such comprehensive insight equips organizations with the data needed for informed personnel decisions.

This extended timeframe provides a clearer picture of an employee or applicant’s habits, allowing for a more thorough assessment of potential risks associated with substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Southwest, PA, significantly reduce sample adulteration risks, ensuring trustworthy results. This method nearly eliminates the possibility of tampering, unlike other testing options.

The tamper-resistant nature of hair testing provides reliable data, thereby strengthening trust in the testing process and helping maintain integrity in substance monitoring and evaluation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With extensive testing locations throughout Southwest, PA, and nationwide, accessing hair follicle drug testing services is swift and effortless. Accredited Drug Testing ensures readily available centers for your convenience.

The network of testing sites facilitates hassle-free access to services, whether one is local or across various cities, maintaining efficiency in delivering reliable drug testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Southwest, PA, is both straightforward and private, catering to those concerned about confidentiality and ease of use. From ordering to receiving results, the process is designed for user comfort.

We prioritize maintaining discretion throughout the testing process, ensuring that personal privacy is respected while delivering precise and insightful results efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and fast turnaround times make hair follicle testing in Southwest, PA, an attractive option for businesses of all sizes. Efficient processing ensures excellent value.

Affordability without compromising quality, alongside quick, reliable results, provides peace of mind and a strong return on investment for companies seeking exemplary drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision of hair follicle drug tests in Southwest, PA, ensures rapid and accurate results, showcasing their efficacy in detecting substance use. Their ability to provide conclusive data quickly makes them invaluable for employers and authorities seeking reliable outcomes.

With accurate detection capabilities, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional methods, delivering prompt results that aid in making informed decisions. This efficiency streamlines processes for all involved, reinforcing confidence in testing procedures.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Southwest, PA, ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal risks and boosting safety. Employers gain peace of mind knowing that their workforce undergoes rigorous drug screening.

This testing method supports a secure and compliant workplace, setting a foundation for reduced incidences of drug-related workplace liabilities. Employers can rely on its robust approach for maintaining a safe environment.

Drug Testing Near Southwest, PA

South Greensburg, PA

Marguerite, PA

Hunker, PA

Saint Clair, PA

New Stanton, PA

Paintersville, PA

Pleasant Unity, PA

Youngwood, PA

Mount Pleasant, PA

Mammoth, PA

Armbrust, PA

United, PA

Calumet, PA

Calumet-Norvelt, PA

Norvelt, PA

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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