Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Stevens, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. In the fibers of the growing hair strand, biomarkers become encapsulated, offering an extended history of alcohol and drug usage. Hair, when obtained from near the scalp, can reveal alcohol and other substance use for up to about three months. It’s straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample containing roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg of hair, constituting the optimal sample size for both screening and definitive testing. For assessments involving EtG, additional tests, or panels above ten, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen’s weight. Should scalp hair not be available, an equal portion of body hair can be gathered. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary hair, and so on).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test result in a laboratory involves four core steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially processed into a lab's system. This step includes validating that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entries not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to rule out drug usage from most samples, a positive screen demands confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples that show presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, further hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for the Extraction process. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening one of the most complex methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples with presumptive positivity are cleansed before confirmation if required. Every step in the lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and accredited in compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can trace drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Increased difficulty to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Gives historical insights: It can reflect a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Detecting drugs in hair takes roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Attributes like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations within hair.

Note: Though often dubbed as "hair follicle tests," these tests evaluate the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Stevens, PA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine analysis in several aspects. Superior detection accuracy and reliability make it a preferred choice among professionals. Hair testing provides a broader detection span, capturing drug use that urine tests might miss.

Employers and legal professionals value hair testing for its ability to identify long-term substance use patterns. Unlike urine analysis, it offers a more comprehensive overview of an individual's drug history.

Extended Detection Window

One of the primary benefits of hair follicle testing in Stevens, PA, is its extended detection window. This method can track substance use over a period of up to 90 days, far beyond what urine tests can achieve.

Employers gain a comprehensive view of an applicant's drug history, providing valuable insights into their potential workplace behavior. This long-term detection enhances decision-making reliability.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Stevens, PA, hair follicle tests are uniquely tamper-resistant. This method ensures the integrity of the sample, significantly reducing the risk of adulteration that can compromise test results.

Employers can rely on the reliability of hair testing for unquestionable results, fostering trust and credibility within their drug testing programs.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing locations both nationwide and locally in Stevens, PA, accessing hair follicle drug testing services is hassle-free. Our centers are strategically placed for quick and easy access, meeting the needs of individuals and businesses alike.

Nationwide coverage ensures that no matter where you're located, professional testing services are within reach, simplifying the process.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Stevens, PA, is simple and confidential. From ordering to obtaining results, the procedure is designed to protect privacy and ease of use.

Clients can confidently rely on a streamlined process that addresses confidentiality concerns, ensuring data protection standards are met.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Stevens, PA, we offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle tests. Our competitive pricing structures provide value, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can access high-quality testing services.

The short wait time for results enhances decision-making efficiency, allowing companies to act swiftly with confidence.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Stevens, PA, hair follicle drug tests deliver rapid, precise results. Accurate detection of substance use is assured, reflecting a high standard of reliability. As one of the most effective methods, these tests capture substance abuse patterns accurately.

The speed of hair testing sets it apart, ensuring that individuals and employers receive fast insights into drug history. Efficiency and dependability are hallmarks of hair follicle analysis.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Stevens, PA, contributes to compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering employers peace of mind. This method reduces the risk of legal complications, enhancing safety and security in the workplace.

By adopting hair testing, employers align with best practices for maintaining a drug-free environment, ensuring a safer and more productive workforce.

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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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