Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Clarksville, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended record of alcohol and drug usage, capturing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to about 90 days for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, optimal for analysis and verification. For EtG, supplemental testing, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. We advise measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar volume of body hair is an option. When mentioning head hair, we imply scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory analysis of a drug test result involves four critical stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial steps of incorporating a sample into a lab’s system. This step entails verifying proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is the preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. While this step is cost-effective for excluding drug use in most samples, positive results from the screening need validation for legal admissibility. Samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If screening results are preliminarily positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. This stage extracts drugs from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis the most complex to conduct.

The confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which cover a shorter timeframe.
• Challenging to alter: Cheating a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical usage patterns: It can outline a history of drug usage over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug analyses generally cost more than other testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can alter drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When it comes to drug testing in Clarksville, MD, hair follicle testing triumphs over traditional urine tests due to its superior detection capabilities and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing offers a more extensive detection window, providing a clearer picture of substance use history. This higher level of accuracy assures employers of making well-informed decisions.

Extended Detection Window

One of the significant advantages of hair follicle testing in Clarksville, MD is its extended detection period of drug use, up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain an in-depth understanding of an individual's substance use history, as opposed to shorter-term analyses. The prolonged detection timeframe provides a comprehensive insight into an employee's or candidate's past drug habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in Clarksville, MD minimizes risks related to sample tampering, ensuring credible outcomes for all tests. Due to the nature of its sampling process, it's incredibly difficult for individuals to alter their results, leading to a higher confidence level in the outcomes. Such reliability is vital for maintaining the integrity of drug testing programs.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing centers nationwide, including Clarksville, MD, Accredited Drug Testing offers accessible and hassle-free testing options. This widespread availability ensures that individuals can swiftly and effortlessly access the required testing services, no matter their location, thus promoting ease for all involved parties.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Clarksville, MD is designed to be straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively. From ordering a test to taking it and receiving results, each step is streamlined to offer simplicity and ease of use for all clients, ensuring a stress-free experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Clarksville, MD stands out for its competitive pricing and prompt result turnaround. This blend of affordability and efficiency ensures excellent value for businesses of all sizes, providing them with the assurance they require without straining their budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Clarksville, MD boasts rapid and accurate results, offering unmatched precision for detecting substance use. Its high accuracy ensures that results are both reliable and timely, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions swiftly. The method's efficiency in identifying drug traces is unparalleled, providing a trustable and expedient solution for all testing needs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Clarksville, MD, hair follicle testing provides companies with assurance and compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By integrating this method, employers can minimize legal liabilities while promoting a culture of safety. The steady reliability of hair testing ensures that businesses maintain the highest standards of workplace safety and compliance.

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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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