Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cordova, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Through capturing biomarkers in the fibers of the growing hair strand, hair offers a prolonged timeline of substance use. When obtained near the scalp, it can reveal alcohol and drug use for a period of up to three months. Hair is easy to gather, moderately resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearest the scalp yields 100mg, which is the ideal amount for examination. For EtG, additional tests, and screenings beyond 10 panels, a quantity of 150mg is advised. It’s best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types like facial or axillary.

Process Overview

There are four primary phases in the lab analysis of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning denotes the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory's system, which involves ensuring the sample is securely sealed and shipped, allotting a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and adding any additional data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody procedure.

Screening acts as a preliminary examination for illicit substances. Although Screening is an inexpensive method to eliminate drug use in most cases, any positive result must be verified to be accepted legally. Samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate auxiliary confirmation.

In the event a sample shows a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn from hair at a lower concentration than in other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair testing one of the hardest methodologies to implement.

Verification of any positive Screening outcome is executed by GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before verification if required. The complete lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is analyzed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can recognize drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to cheat: Hair drug evaluations are difficult to fake, enhancing accuracy.
• Delivers usage history: This can outline a drug usage pattern over time, unlike recent-only use indicators.

Limitations:

• Cannot indicate recent use: Detecting drugs in hair takes roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth variations may alter drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite being often termed "hair follicle tests," the focus is on analyzing the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Cordova, MD

When it comes to evaluating drug use, hair follicle testing provides an edge over urine tests. Its superior detection capability and accuracy offer a reliable means to identify substance use patterns, proving beneficial for employers in Cordova.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Cordova, MD

Hair follicle testing excels in surveillance, capturing drug use over an extensive 90-day period. This extended window furnishes employers with a thorough insight into a candidate or employee's usage history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Cordova, MD

Hair follicle tests greatly mitigate the risk of sample tampering. This robust method ensures reliable outcomes, reinforcing trust in the results for businesses in Cordova.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Cordova, MD

Our vast network of testing centers grants easy, swift access to services, ensuring seamless experiences nationally and locally in Cordova.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Cordova, MD

Our straightforward and confidential process ensures ease of ordering, taking, and retrieving results while addressing privacy concerns efficiently within Cordova.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Cordova, MD

Our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times provide exceptional value, offering peace of mind for businesses of any scale in Cordova.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Cordova, MD

The precision and speed of hair follicle tests are unmatched. These evaluations provide high accuracy, efficiently detecting historical substance use with reliability that businesses in Cordova can trust.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Cordova, MD

Employing hair follicle testing facilitates adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This not only diminishes legal risks but also enhances workplace safety, bestowing peace of mind for employers in Cordova.

Drug Testing Near Cordova, MD

District 5, MD

Tunis Mills, MD

Denton, MD

Ruthsburg, MD

Carmichael, MD

West Denton, MD

Williston, MD

Ridgely, MD

Starr, MD

Wye Mills, MD

Easton, MD

Matthews, MD

Longwoods, MD

Hillsboro, MD

Skipton, 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.

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