Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Stillwater, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record by capturing biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When cut near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to roughly three months for substances. It is convenient to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hairs (roughly the thickness of a number 2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample amount for testing. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests higher than 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. We suggest weighing the sample with a jeweler's scale. If there is no scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When we say head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair indicates other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing process in the lab consists of these steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the sample's initial entry into the lab's records. This step involves checking that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening can efficiently rule out drug usage for many samples, any positive results need further verification for legal validity. Samples that are tentatively positive in Screening must undergo a subsequent confirmation step.

If Screening indicates a sample is tentatively positive, additional hair is taken from the sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (for example, urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a notably challenging technique.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All samples presumed positive are washed before confirmation as appropriate. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, which is longer than the timeframe of urine tests.
• Hard to evade: Altering a hair drug test is highly challenging, increasing result reliability.
• Yields historical data: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot determine recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to show in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand and not the scalp follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Stillwater, PA, offers distinct advantages over urine tests. Superior detection accuracy means drugs and alcohol are identified more reliably than traditional urine analyses.

Extended detection periods allow employers and institutions to monitor substance use over longer durations, ensuring more comprehensive evaluations.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Period gives hair follicle testing in Stillwater, PA, an edge. This method allows a retrospective insight into an individual's substance use history over 90 days, offering employers a broader perspective on applicant or employee behavior.

This longer detection window serves as a critical component in evaluating substance use trends effectively.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Stillwater, PA, hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method that significantly reduces the risk of adulteration. This enhances the reliability of results, ensuring trustworthy and conclusive outcomes.

Such tests deliver unquestionable results, making them the go-to choice for organizations seeking to eliminate the chance of falsified samples.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Nationwide Testing Locations in Stillwater, PA, offer convenient solutions for drug testing needs. Our centers ensure quick and hassle-free access to services, simplifying the testing process and enhancing efficiency.

Whether local or across the nation, our robust infrastructure guarantees effortless testing experiences for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple and confidential process of hair follicle testing in Stillwater, PA, addresses privacy and ease of use. From ordering to receiving results, the process is designed to protect individual confidentiality while maintaining transparency.

This approach ensures that concerns regarding privacy and user experience are met effectively, reinforcing trust.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and swift turnarounds, hair follicle testing in Stillwater, PA stands out for its value. Companies can enjoy competitive rates paired with prompt service delivery, enhancing peace of mind and efficiency.

These attributes are tailored to suit organizations of various sizes, ensuring cost-effective solutions without compromising quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Stillwater, PA, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed, precision, and reliability. Their high accuracy ensures that substance use is detected with confidence, providing fast and dependable results that employers and organizations can trust.

The accuracy of these tests serves as a reliable indicator for identifying substance use, making them an essential tool in maintaining a safe and secure environment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Stillwater, PA, gain hands-on peace of mind and compliance with workplace drug-free policies through hair follicle testing. This method minimizes legal risks and boosts workplace safety, ensuring stringent adherence to regulatory guidelines.

Adopting hair testing methods showcases a proactive approach to maintaining ethical standards within the workplace environment.

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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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