Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Crofton, MD

What it is, How it works

Seen as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption, hair testing is increasingly popular. Hair serves as a historical record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the hair's growing strands. By acquiring hair near the scalp, it can offer around a 3-month time frame for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for mailing.

A sample of 1.5 inches with approximately 200 strands of hair (akin to a #2 pencil's width) near the scalp yields 100mg, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. When performing EtG, additional panels, or tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair is suitable. References to head hair pertain exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The key steps in laboratory drug test processing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing in the laboratory's system. This process ensures the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary check for illicit drugs. While Screening serves as an economical approach to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive screen needs verification for court acceptance. Any presumptively positive Screening samples need secondary confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, more hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In this stage, drug extraction from hair occurs at lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screen happens via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation, if needed. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, compared to the shorter detection windows of urine tests.
• Hard to manipulate: It's very challenging to cheat a hair drug test, ensuring more accurate results.
• Offers historical insights: It provides a timeline of drug use, not limited to recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more compared to alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand, not the scalp's hair follicle

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Crofton, MD

Compared to traditional urine tests, hair testing offers superior detection and reliability. With a detection window of up to 90 days, it provides an unparalleled look into substance use history. The long detection period and resistance to tampering make it an attractive alternative to urine testing for more thorough results.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Crofton, MD

Hair follicle testing reveals drug use over an extended period, offering a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance usage, typically up to 90 days. This broadened window offers employers valuable insights into the substance history of prospective or current employees, enhancing informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Crofton, MD

Hair follicle tests significantly diminish the danger of sample tampering, ensuring dependable and unquestionable results. This testing method provides a foolproof approach, reducing the likelihood of adulteration and guaranteeing truthful drug use reporting.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Crofton, MD

Our extensive network of testing facilities across the nation guarantees swift and straightforward access to testing services. Local centers in Crofton, MD, facilitate hassle-free participation, streamlining the testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Crofton, MD

Our hair testing process is straightforward and confidential, making ordering, taking, and results retrieval stress-free. We prioritize privacy and ease, ensuring user confidence and a seamless experience from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Crofton, MD

We're proud of our competitive pricing schemes and quick processing times, delivering top-notch value to businesses of every size. Our efficient services provide assurance and effective monitoring at accessible costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Crofton, MD

With hair follicle drug tests, precision and speed in substance detection are second to none. These tests boast remarkable accuracy, delivering dependable results quickly. The comprehensive nature of hair testing ensures precise assessments of substance use, promoting reliability in outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Crofton, MD

Employing hair follicle testing helps ensure conformity with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal exposure and boosting safety. Its reliable findings provide employers reassurance and maintain regulatory 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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