Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Arden On The Severn, MD

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair for testing has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. The growth of hair strands captures biomarkers that reflect a long-term record of substance intake. When hair is sourced near the scalp, it allows for an estimation of a 3-month timeframe to detect substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

An ideal sample size for both screening and confirmation tests includes a 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil), yielding 100mg of hair. For EtG add-ons and tests beyond 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is advised. It's beneficial to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In situations where scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent volumetric amount of body hair can be used. When we reference head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

In the Accessioning phase, the sample enters a laboratory’s system through initial processing. This includes checking the sample’s seal, properly dispatching it, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening acts as a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. Although cost-effective for ruling out drug use across most samples, a positive screen mandates confirmation to stand in legal proceedings. Samples showing presumptive positivity during Screening necessitate further confirmation.

When a sample indicates presumptive positivity at the Screening phase, additional hair is utilized from the original sample for the Extraction stage. During Extraction, substances are retrieved from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexities involved with hair drug screening.

Positive screening outcomes undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Any samples with presumptive results are cleansed before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory sequence, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is evaluated in line with CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and conforms to ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug evaluations can trace drug use back for an estimated duration of 90 days, which surpasses the shorter timeframe captured by urine tests.
• High resistance to evasion: Attempting to cheat a hair drug evaluation is quite difficult, enhancing the precision of the results.
• Historical usage information: It enables insights into substance usage trends over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify immediate use: It generally requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug evaluations tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair pigmentation and individual growth patterns may influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the assessment targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to urine screening in Arden on the Severn, MD, it's evident why many professionals consider hair testing superior. Understanding the benefits of hair testing over urine testing is crucial. It provides enhanced detection accuracy and reliability, lessening chances of error.

Extended Detection Window

An advantage of hair follicle testing in Arden on the Severn, MD is its extended detection window. It allows employers the benefit of a broad overview of a person's drug use history, detecting substances over 90 days for a comprehensive substance record.
This duration aids in presenting a clear picture of an individual's history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

For those in Arden on the Severn, MD concerned about the integrity of their drug testing methods, hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant solution. By substantially minimizing sample adulteration risk, hair tests ensure reliable and unquestionable outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Located in Arden on the Severn, MD? Benefit from our conveniently located testing centers available nationwide. Accessible testing ensures a quick, easy, and hassle-free testing service experience for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The drug testing process in Arden on the Severn, MD is simple and confidential. You can easily order, take, and receive your results, addressing privacy concerns while being straightforward. This structure provides a seamless process from beginning to end.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Firms in Arden on the Severn, MD are offered affordable pricing and fast turnaround times. This combination delivers value, ensuring businesses of any size achieve peace of mind while enjoying competitive service offerings.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Arden on the Severn, MD, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for offering fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. They stand out in accurately detecting substance usage compared to other methods.
The precision of hair testing ensures accurate detection, avoiding false results, and providing confidence to those relying on its findings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Businesses in Arden on the Severn, MD can assure themselves peace of mind with hair follicle testing. Ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies reduces legal threats and bolsters workplace safety.
Using this method aligns with maintaining a secure and law-abiding environment.

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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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