Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Union City, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as it grows. When acquired near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a roughly 3-month detection span for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to send.

A 1.5-inch section comprising around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil size) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for testing and validation. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is advisable to have 150mg of the sample. We advise measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is unavailable, an equal portion of body hair may be collected. When talking about head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four central stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample into a lab's system. This step includes checking that the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid check for drugs of misuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen needs verification to be permissible in court. Any samples that are presumably positive in Screening do require additional confirmation.

If a sample tests presumably positive in the Screening phase, additional hair from the initial sample is prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples are washed prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a smaller detection period.
• Difficult to manipulate: It is extremely challenging to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Offers historical information: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect current use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result discrepancies: Aspects like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence the drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Even though often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the examination itself evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Union City, PA, outshines traditional urine tests by offering superior accuracy and dependability. While urine tests detect drug use within a short timeframe, hair tests provide a more detailed analysis thanks to their extended detection period, which captures a broader consumption history.

Employers benefit from hair testing's enhanced reliability, as it minimizes manipulation risks and extends the detection window, providing a more thorough review of potential drug use. This makes it an ideal choice for maintaining robust drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Union City, PA, covers up to 90 days, making it an essential tool for employers to assess an individual's substance involvement over time. Unlike other methods, it gives a deeper insight into the consumption patterns.

This increased detection timeframe ensures that employers gain a comprehensive overview of the applicant or employee's drug history, thus assisting in making informed hiring or retention decisions, ultimately promoting a safer working environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Union City, PA, offer a robust deterrent against sample manipulation. The method significantly cuts the risk of tampering, ensuring the integrity of the test results. This reliability is critical for accurate drug history evaluation.

The process' design deters adulteration, as the collection is observed, thereby guaranteeing that the sample reflects true substance use. This aspect enhances trust in the results, promoting fairness and accountability in testing environments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Union City, PA, and nationally, our testing centers offer unparalleled convenience. These easily accessible locations afford straightforward entry to hair testing services, facilitating the needs of both individuals and businesses with seamless service provision.

The broad network of testing centers supports rapid and stress-free testing experiences, exemplifying convenience for clients needing quick assessments. Local availability ensures that drug testing remains an easily navigable process, fostering timely health checks.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Union City, PA, the hair follicle testing process highlights both simplicity and confidentiality. Ordering a test and receiving results is straightforward, addressing privacy concerns for individuals and organizations alike.

This hassle-free procedure ensures ease of use without compromising user confidentiality. The process promises discreet handling, making it an accessible and private choice for those seeking reliable drug test outcomes.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordability and rapid service in Union City, PA, define our hair follicle testing options, offering competitive pricing that makes the process accessible to businesses of varying scales.

With swift result turnaround times, clients benefit from this economical testing solution, which delivers compelling value. This manageable cost structure complements the precise testing process, offering peace of mind to employers and individuals seeking efficient results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Union City, PA, hair follicle testing provides quick, reliable results. It offers precise identification of substance use, making it a dependable choice for drug testing. The efficiency of this method lies in its ability to accurately detect drug presence, ensuring trustworthy outcomes with high precision.

The streamlined process of hair testing guarantees results are both fast and accurate. This allows for an efficient turnaround time, essential for making informed decisions and maintaining a substance-free environment in Union City.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Union City employers, implementing hair follicle testing aligns with composite drug-free workplace policies. This aids in adhering to compliance standards, reducing legal liabilities, and fostering a safer environment for all staff members.

Adopting this method grants employers peace of mind, as it not only ensures adherence to regulatory standards but also nurtures a secure and efficient work setting. The testing method is pivotal for sustaining a productive, illicit substance-free workplace.

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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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