Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brock Hall, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a significant method to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a historical record for alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of developing hair. When gathered near the scalp, it can offer a detection period of up to around three months for substance use. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample of approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the perfect specimen for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen size of 150mg is advisable. It is recommended that the specimen be weighed using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair not be available, an equivalent volume of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, it specifically means scalp hair. Other types of hair, like facial or axillary, fall under the category of body hair.

Process Overview

The key steps in the laboratory handling of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is about the introductory processing of a specimen within a lab’s framework. This comprises checking that the sample was securely sealed and shipped, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any further data recording absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening encompasses a primary swift evaluation for substances of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug usage in most specimens, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for courtroom admissibility. Any specimens with presumptive positivity during Screening mandate a subsequent confirmation.

When a specimen shows presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thereby rendering hair drug screening challenging to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and conforms to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Merits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a shorter detection duration.
• Challenges in evasion: It's exceedingly tough to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing the precision of results.
• Historical data provision: It delivers a pattern of drug usage over time, not solely recent consumption.

Constraints:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for substances to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur greater costs than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variation: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth may alter drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While commonly termed as "hair follicle tests," the evaluation pertains to the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Brock Hall, MD, outshines urine testing for numerous reasons. Not only does it boast superior accuracy, but it also provides reliability unmatched by traditional methods. Employers favor this technique for maintaining rigorous standards and ensuring comprehensive substance use detection.

Extended Detection Window

In Brock Hall, MD, the extended detection window of hair follicle testing presents a more detailed account of one's substance history. With the ability to trace drug use up to 90 days, it surpasses other methods, offering employers a broad understanding of an individual's potential patterns or history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

When it comes to tamper-resistant testing in Brock Hall, MD, hair follicle tests take the lead. This method significantly mitigates the potential for sample tampering, providing reliable results that can be trusted by employers and organizations that require definitive answers.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Access to hair follicle testing is made simple in Brock Hall, MD, with our nationwide and local centers. This comprehensive network guarantees easy, hassle-free service access, ensuring that testing demands are met quickly and efficiently without geographical barriers.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Brock Hall, MD, our simple and confidential process reassures clients seeking hair follicle testing. From ordering tests to receiving results, each step is handled with utmost discretion, maintaining privacy and ease for users, alleviating any potential concerns about confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Businesses of all sizes in Brock Hall, MD, benefit from our affordable pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle tests. Our competitive prices combined with quick processing times ensure that companies receive excellent value and peace of mind without deterring quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Brock Hall, MD, hair follicle tests are praised for their accuracy and speed. These tests can detect substance use with impressive precision, much more reliable than other methods. Results are efficiently processed, making them ideal for timely decision-making without compromising on quality and reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Brock Hall, MD, hair follicle testing facilitates compliance with drug-free workplace mandates, reducing legal issues and promoting safety. By adopting this reliable method, businesses enhance their integrity and offer peace of mind knowing their policies are effectively enforced.

Drug Testing Near Brock Hall, MD

Mitchellville, MD

Largo, MD

Kettering, MD

Queenland, MD

Westphalia, MD

Upper Marlboro, MD

Marlboro Meadows, MD

Greater Upper Marlboro, MD

Marlboro Village, MD

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