Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dunkirk, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as an effective technique for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. Gathering hair near the scalp offers an approximate 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is easy, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels above 10, a recommendation of 150mg is made. We advise weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is lacking, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When referring to head hair, this specifically indicates scalp hair. Body hair covers all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in processing a drug test result in a lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step where a sample is entered into the lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) is assigned, and any additional data is entered if not already provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary quick scan for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective way to identify drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be usable in court. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening require further confirmation.

If a Screening suggests a sample is positive, additional hair is extracted and prepared for the Extraction stage. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.

Confirmation of a positive screening result is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated 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 detect drug usage for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests with a shorter window.
• Difficult to manipulate: It’s notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals pattern of use: It illustrates a timeline of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why does hair follicle testing outperform urine testing in Dunkirk, MD? It's simple. Hair testing provides superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike typical urine tests, hair tests offer a panoramic view of drug use over an extended timeframe. This capability helps employers and organizations make informed decisions, enhancing safety and compliance in various environments.

Extended Detection Window

Highlighting the benefit of an extended detection window in Dunkirk, MD, hair follicle tests can trace drug use for periods up to 90 days. This extended reach furnishes employers with an exhaustive look into an individual's substance history, enabling better-informed decisions about hiring and maintaining workplace integrity and safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Dunkirk, MD, hair follicle tests are a tamper-resistant testing method that cuts down on the chances of sample tampering or substitution. These tests present results that are both trustworthy and unquestionable, making them a preferred choice for environments aiming to uphold rigorous standards and integrity in drug testing practices.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing locations, including Dunkirk, MD centers, Accredited Drug Testing offers seamless access to our testing services. Our extensive network ensures straightforward, efficient, and stress-free testing for clients anywhere, supporting their needs with prompt service delivery.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Dunkirk, MD, is both simple and confidential. Designed for ease, ordering and undergoing hair follicle testing, along with receiving results, is straightforward and private. This approach alleviates concerns regarding confidentiality and assists clients in accessing results effortlessly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing's operation in Dunkirk, MD, stands out for its affordable pricing and fast turnaround. The competitive pricing model and swift result delivery provide exceptional value for businesses, ensuring they meet their operational objectives promptly and within budget.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

For those seeking fast, accurate, and reliable results in Dunkirk, MD, hair follicle drug tests excel in precision in identifying substance use. They offer unparalleled detection capabilities, ensuring meticulous accuracy and clarity in test outcomes. The analytic techniques utilized in these assessments guarantee speedy results without compromising on reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring compliance and peace of mind for employers in Dunkirk, MD, hair follicle testing aligns with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal exposure and promoting a secure work setting. By opting for this method, organizations can secure a robust framework that supports their safety and compliance objectives.

Drug Testing Near Dunkirk, MD

Baden, MD

Chesapeake Beach, MD

North Beach, MD

Deale, MD

Rose Haven, MD

Leitch, MD

Croom, MD

Tracys Landing, MD

Bristol, MD

Sunderland, MD

Lower Marlboro, MD

Mount Harmony, MD

Chaneyville, 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