Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Springville, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a compelling method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair can reveal a long-term history of substance consumption by trapping biomarkers within the growing hair strand’s fibers. When hair is collected near the scalp, it offers a detection window of around 3 months for substances such as alcohol and other drugs. It is easy to collect, relatively resistant to adulteration, and straightforward to ship.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of about 200 strands (similar to the diameter of a #2 pencil) obtained closest to the scalp yields about 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is preferred. It is advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equal amount of body hair may be utilized. When referencing head hair, we strictly mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

In laboratory processing of drug test results, four primary steps are involved: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial stage of processing a sample within a laboratory’s system. This involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary evaluation for substances of abuse. Although it is a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal validity. Any samples considered positive during Screening need secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen, preparing it for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples tentatively identified as positive undergo washing prior to confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests identify drug use spanning up to 90 days, longer than the shorter window of urine tests.
• Difficulty to cheat: Due to the nature of hair drug tests, they are significantly challenging to manipulate, enhancing result reliability.
• Provides historical data: These tests reveal patterns of drug use over time rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Cost: Hair drug tests usually involve higher expenses than other drug testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Factors like hair color and individual growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Springville, PA, the advantages of hair follicle tests over urine tests are evident. Hair testing surpasses urine testing by offering a wider detection window and is far more challenging to manipulate.

Contrary to traditional urine tests that cover recent use, hair tests provide insight into a longer timeframe. This comprehensive approach enhances accuracy and eliminates the risk of evasion through sample adulteration, ensuring reliability.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Springville, PA, are turning to hair follicle tests due to their extended detection capabilities. Unlike other methods, these tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior.

This extensive window provides a thorough analysis of an individual's substance habits. By capturing this comprehensive data, employers make better-informed decisions, ensuring a safer and more compliant workspace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Springville, PA are nearly impervious to tampering, which is a significant concern with other drug testing forms. Their intrinsic design rules out any chance of altering.

The difficulty in falsifying hair samples makes them an excellent choice for any entity seeking irrefutable and trustworthy drug test outcomes. Consequently, they protect test integrity and authenticity like no other method.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide and local testing locations in Springville, PA, our services stand out for accessibility. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that securing a test is straightforward.

Whether in Springville or beyond, the ease of access to our facilities guarantees minimal hassle, encouraging prompt and consistent testing processes. Our expansive network provides a level of convenience few can match.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Springville, PA, we prioritize a straightforward and discreet testing process. From ordering to receiving results, the procedure is designed for simplicity.

Privacy remains paramount, ensuring each customer's information is handled with care. Our user-friendly approach addresses concerns about confidentiality while optimizing the ease of obtaining reliable drug test results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Springville, PA blends affordability with efficiency. Our competitive pricing models prove cost-effective, offering valuable solutions for all business sizes.

Rapid turnaround times further enhance our services, minimizing disruption and enhancing value. Companies can rely on timely and accurate results without breaking the bank, making us ideal partners in drug and alcohol testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Springville, PA benefits immensely from the rapid and precise results delivered by hair follicle drug tests. Featuring unparalleled accuracy, these tests are adept at identifying even trace levels of drug usage.

The meticulous nature of hair screening amplifies its reliability, setting a gold standard in drug testing protocols. With swift processes and dependable results, hair follicle testing optimizes both efficiency and assurance in substance detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Springville, PA find peace of mind with hair follicle drug tests. These tests enable organizations to comply with stringent drug-free policies.
The peace of mind that comes with reducing legal threats and securing a safer work environment is invaluable. Using hair tests signals a commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace while safeguarding operational integrity.

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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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