Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Easton, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers an extended history of substance use through capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When gathered close to the scalp, hair can supply a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for both alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, deemed the ideal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is advised to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair may be gathered. When mentioning head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair covers other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the first step of processing a sample into a lab’s system. It includes verifying proper sealing and shipping of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry not offered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial quick assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage for most samples, positive screens require confirmation to be court admissible. Any samples presumptively positive in Screening demand a secondary verification.

If Screening identifies a sample as presumptively positive, more hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations much lower than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is the most complex methodology to execute.

Any positive screen is confirmed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is supervised under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can pick up drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a briefer detection window.
• Difficulty to cheat: It's quite challenging to bypass a hair drug test, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical data: It displays a pattern of drug use over a duration, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other testing methods.
• Variations in results: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth differences may influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the actual test assesses the hair strand, rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in West Easton, PA surpasses traditional urine tests in reliability, offering superior detection accuracy that minimizes false negatives and false positives.

For employers seeking comprehensive substance abuse data, hair testing outshines urine testing by providing a robust detection rate and coverage for a broader range of substances over a longer period.

Extended Detection Window

With its up to 90-day detection window, hair follicle testing in West Easton, PA provides an extended view of an individual's drug use history, assisting employers in making well-informed decisions.

This long-term detection capability sets hair testing apart, giving a clearer picture of an applicant's or employee's commitment to a drug-free lifestyle.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In West Easton, PA, hair follicle testing stands out for its tamper-resistant nature, significantly reducing the risk of tampering and sample adulteration to ensure trustworthy results.

The stringent collection and analysis methods make hair follicle testing nearly cheat-proof, offering peace of mind to employers about the authenticity of the results.

• Ensures integrity of the testing process
• Minimizes risks associated with falsified samples

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience meets accessibility with widespread testing locations, including West Easton, PA, ensuring easy access to hair follicle tests.

Our expansive network of testing centers nationwide guarantees clients a simple, efficient testing process no matter where they are located.

• Hassle-free and accessible
• Saves time and effort

Simple, Confidential Process

In West Easton, PA, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns for individuals and employers alike.

From ordering to receiving results, every stage of the process is streamlined to prevent unnecessary stress, ensuring discreet and efficient handling of sensitive data.

• Maintains individual's confidentiality
• Minimized bureaucracy

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing, combined with rapid turnaround times, makes hair follicle drug testing in West Easton, PA a cost-effective choice for businesses.

Regardless of company size, we offer affordable solutions without compromising on quality, delivering quick and reliable results that help maintain a drug-free workplace.

• Cost-effective for all business sizes
• High-value service for competitive rates

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Offering swift and precise results, hair follicle drug testing in West Easton, PA is unmatched in its ability to accurately identify substance use. The tests' reliability makes them an ideal choice for quick and confident decision-making.

Thanks to advanced testing facilities, hair follicle drug testing delivers timely and dependable results. Clients looking for efficiency can trust this testing method to meet tight deadlines without sacrificing accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in West Easton, PA enables employers to maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks and promoting a safer work environment.

This method not only aligns with legal obligations but also protects employees' well-being, fostering a culture of safety and accountability.

• Supports comprehensive drug-free policies
• Reduces potential legal 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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