Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Kittanning, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a formidable means for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair serves as a long-term archive of drug and alcohol usage by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand's fibers. When cut close to the scalp, it can provide a detection range of up to three months for substances. Hair is easy to gather, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches, roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil), when snipped closely to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for testing and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of sample is advised. It's beneficial to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair solely. Body hair covers any other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Laboratory processing of a drug test involves four crucial steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a sample within a lab’s system. This phase includes checking that the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data input not already covered by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening acts as an initial fast assessment for drugs of abuse. It's a cost-effective approach to mostly rule out drug usage, but a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples flagged as presumptively positive in Screening need further confirmation.

In the event Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is taken from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from the hair in significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Positive Screening results are verified via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as needed. The lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is monitored under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair label and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 benchmarks.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, surpassing the shorter detection span of urine tests.
• Hard to bypass: It is extremely difficult to bypass a hair drug test, thus enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal a timeline of drug use practices over a prolonged span, beyond just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair hue and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, excluding the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In West Kittanning, PA, hair follicle testing outshines urine tests in several ways. Hair tests offer superior drug detection accuracy over a longer period, making them reliable for spotting substance use.
The risk of test evasion is minimized, providing employers with dependable results that urine tests may not match in terms of duration and consistency.

Extended Detection Window

In West Kittanning, PA, the hair follicle testing method grants employers insight into up to 90 days of substance use history. This extended detection window provides a detailed account of an individual’s substance use.
Employers gain a more comprehensive understanding of applicant or employee's drug history, aiding informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in West Kittanning, PA, significantly minimizes tampering risks. Compared to urine tests, hair tests are nearly impossible to adulterate.
With reliable and unquestionable results, these tests enhance the integrity of drug testing processes, securing true reflections of substance usage.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers located nationwide, including in West Kittanning, PA, the convenience of our services ensures quick and straightforward access.
Employees and employers can access testing services seamlessly, ensuring a hassle-free testing experience at local or national scales.

Simple, Confidential Process

In West Kittanning, PA, our hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Ordering, testing, and receiving results is straightforward, addressing privacy concerns.
With a user-friendly approach, individuals can undergo testing with ease, knowing their information is protected throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing plans in West Kittanning, PA, hair follicle tests provide excellent value for employers of all sizes.
Fast turnaround times enhance efficiency, making hair testing an affordable and smart choice for those needing reliable substance use assessments swiftly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled in West Kittanning, PA. Hair testing stands out for its high accuracy, quickly delivering reliable results.
Employers seeking fast and trustworthy assessments prefer hair tests, ensuring informed decisions are made swiftly in substance detection protocols.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in West Kittanning, PA, ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies. Using hair tests reinforces safety and mitigates legal risks.
Employers enjoy peace of mind through adherence to regulations, maintaining safer work environments without compromising on drug testing reliability.

Drug Testing Near West Kittanning, PA

Templeton, PA

Slate Lick, PA

Worthington, PA

Christy Manor, PA

Cadogan, PA

North Buffalo, PA

Rosston, PA

Ford Cliff, PA

Lenape Heights, PA

Ford City, PA

Manorville, PA

West Hills, PA

Kittanning, PA

Applewold, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews