Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Vandergrift, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective technique for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair provides a detection timeframe of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and easy to ship.

A sample of 1.5 inches from about 200 strands of hair (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. It is recommended to measure the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, the same amount of body hair can be used. The term "head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair. "Body hair" pertains to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome involves four critical steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step where the sample is processed into a laboratory’s system. This consists of verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any non-electronic chain of custody data entry.

Screening is an initial, rapid test for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is cost-effective for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in court. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptively positive results in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drug extraction occurs at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Samples showing presumptive positivity are pre-washed before confirmation if required. The whole laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a constrained detection timeframe.
• Difficult to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing results’ accuracy.
• Historical usage data: It reflects a timeline of drug use, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Hair drug detection requires about 5-7 days to identify drug presence.
• Higher cost: Hair drug testing is generally more expensive than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and growth variations affect drug metabolite concentration in hair samples.

Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis pertains to hair strands, not the follicles beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Vandergrift, PA, provides distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. With superior detection accuracy, hair tests offer a more reliable assessment of long-term substance use patterns, making them a preferred choice for thorough evaluations.

The hair follicle test's extended detection period surpasses urine testing, capturing a comprehensive picture of an individual's drug use over several months. This unmatched reliability offers employers a clear and detailed understanding of potential risks.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Vandergrift, PA, value hair follicle testing for its ability to trace drug use over an extended timeframe—up to 90 days. This proactive approach delivers a detailed overview of an individual's substance use history, aiding in informed assessment processes.

The long detection window afforded by hair follicle testing provides an in-depth insight into employee behavior, empowering businesses to enforce policies effectively while maintaining a safe, productive work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Vandergrift, PA, hair follicle testing minimizes the threat of sample tampering, ensuring trustworthy and definitive results. The stability of results from hair samples means a more secure method for detecting drug use.

This tamper-resistant nature of hair tests helps reinforce the integrity of the testing process, reducing doubts about the accuracy of results and supporting organizations in making conclusive determinations based on credible data.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Vandergrift, PA residents enjoy the convenience of our nationally available hair follicle testing centers. Regardless of location, comprehensive testing services are easily accessible, simplifying the testing process.

With numerous local testing facilities, our services ensure that obtaining reliable drug testing is both quick and hassle-free, supporting customers in need of efficient and accessible testing options.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our drug testing process in Vandergrift, PA, is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From ordering to final results, every step respects your privacy while ensuring ease of use and compliance.

The seamless process emphasizes user convenience and security, addressing any privacy concerns while delivering timely and confidential results crucial for informed decision-making.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and fast result turnaround times in Vandergrift, PA. Our pricing strategy ensures excellent value for clients of any size seeking reliable drug testing solutions.

By delivering cost-effective services without sacrificing accuracy or speed, we help companies maintain peace of mind while staying within budget constraints, proving advantageous for businesses prioritizing timely and thorough evaluations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Vandergrift, PA, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their exceptional precision and rapid results. These tests have a reputation for accurately identifying substance use, ensuring that both companies and individuals receive the most dependable data possible.

The accuracy of hair follicle testing means swift, reliable insights into drug use. Vandergrift businesses benefit from these tests' fast turnaround, empowering them to make well-informed decisions regarding staff and applicants without delay.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing offers peace of mind for Vandergrift, PA employers committed to a drug-free workplace. By adhering to stringent drug policies, organizations can bolster compliance, minimize legal risks, and enhance workplace safety.

Adopting this testing method helps maintain a secure work environment, creating a sustainable culture that emphasizes safety and productivity while reducing potential liabilities.

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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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