Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Chance, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a compelling resource for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and other drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the growing hair strand’s fibers. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal up to roughly a 3-month detection scope for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, generally tough to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. Absent scalp hair, an equal portion of body hair can be taken. When indicating head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair denotes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core steps within the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the sample’s initial processing into a laboratory’s database. This encompasses ensuring the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a quick initial examination for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient means to negate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation to be compliant in court. Any samples provisionally positive in Screening do require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are withdrawn from hair at a notably lower concentration than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All provisional positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which have a briefer detection span.
• Cheating difficulty: It is very challenging to cheat a hair drug test, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical information: It can exhibit a pattern of drug use over a duration, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to recognize recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Costliness: Hair drug tests are generally more costly than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle under the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why are hair follicle tests superior to traditional urine tests in Chance, MD? The answer lies in their unmatched accuracy and reliability. Hair testing offers enhanced detection, picking up drugs that urine tests might miss. Unlike urine tests, hair tests can't be easily manipulated, providing dependable results every time. This makes them the preferred choice for thorough substance detection.

Extended Detection Window

In Chance, MD, hair follicle testing is renowned for its long detection window, offering insights into drug usage over an extended period of up to 90 days. This extended window provides employers with a thorough look into an individual's substance history, allowing for informed decisions based on a more comprehensive view of drug use patterns well beyond the capabilities of other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Chance, MD, provide the reassurance of a tamper-resistant methodology. These tests are designed to minimize the risk of sample contamination, ensuring that results are reliable and incontestable. By utilizing hair samples, the potential for adulteration is significantly reduced, building trust in the accuracy and integrity of the test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Chance, MD, our extensive network of testing centers offers unparalleled convenience. With locations across the nation, accessing drug testing services is quick and hassle-free. Local centers ensure efficient service delivery, whether for routine checks or specific testing needs, making the process streamlined and accessible to all.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our hair follicle testing process in Chance, MD, is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed to uphold privacy and simplicity. The process ensures that individuals or organizations can easily and confidentially access testing services, addressing any concerns about the security and ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Chance, MD, we pride ourselves on offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for our hair follicle tests. Our pricing structure is designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes, ensuring affordability without sacrificing quality. Quick results provide excellent value, leaving businesses confident in the prudent use of their resources.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Chance, MD, hair follicle drug tests are rapidly gaining favor due to their speed and fidelity in providing results. These tests showcase pinpoint accuracy, allowing them to detect a wide array of substances efficiently. Their rapid processing times mean you can expect fast results without compromising the integrity and reliability of the test, ensuring substance use is detected with high precision.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Embracing hair follicle testing in Chance, MD, helps employers comply with drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind. This method reduces legal vulnerabilities and bolsters workplace safety. By ensuring reliable drug testing, businesses can maintain their commitment to a secure, policy-abiding environment, reducing risks and fostering a safer workspace.

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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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