Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Valencia, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains an extended timeline of drug and alcohol use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair offers up to an approximately 3-month detection window for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests over 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It is advisable to weigh the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system. This process includes ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped appropriately, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Despite being a cost-effective means to exclude drug usage for most samples, confirmation is required for a positive screen to be legally acceptable. Samples that are tentatively positive in Screening need a secondary validation.

If a sample is tentatively positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is gathered from the original sample and readied for Extraction. At this point, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underlining why hair drug screening is the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentative positive samples undergo a wash before confirmation if needed. The whole lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the standard for ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can recognize drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which have a narrower detection timeframe.
• Challenging to falsify: It is quite challenging to falsify a hair drug test, resulting in more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over a duration, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Variations in outcomes: Elements such as hair color and individual disparities in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Valencia, PA
Hair testing surpasses traditional urine tests by demonstrating superior detection accuracy and reliability. With extensive detection periods and infallible results, hair tests provide a clearer picture of an individual’s history, making them preferable over urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Valencia, PA
Hair follicle testing offers an extensive detection window, identifying drug use up to 90 days prior. This allows employers to thoroughly assess an applicant or employee's substance history, ensuring informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Valencia, PA
Hair follicle tests in Valencia significantly minimize the risk of sample tampering. Their robust methodology ensures reliable and indisputable results, establishing trustworthiness for both employers and individuals under examination.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Valencia, PA
Our nationwide and local testing centers offer convenient solutions, providing easy, accessible drug testing services. Ensuring hassle-free experiences, these centers are strategically located for utmost convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Valencia, PA
The hair testing process is straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy concerns are addressed. From ordering to receiving results, the seamless procedure guarantees an effortless and discrete testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Valencia, PA
Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times offer exceptional value. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from our cost-effective services, receiving timely insights without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Valencia, PA
Hair follicle drug tests provide unmatched precision in Valencia. These tests offer quick results while maintaining high accuracy, making them ideal for detecting substance use. Employers benefit from the rapid and assured outcomes of hair tests, enhancing decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Valencia, PA
Hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug policies, reducing legal risks and promoting a safe working environment. Employers gain peace of mind, knowing their workforce adheres to a drug-free standard.

Drug Testing Near Valencia, PA

Bradford Woods, PA

Fox Run, PA

Wildwood, PA

Bradfordwoods, PA

Glade Mills, PA

Warrendale, PA

Wexford, PA

Myoma, PA

Seven Fields, PA

Bakerstown, PA

Gibsonia, PA

Mars, PA

Bakerstown Station, 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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