Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Galestown, MD

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair testing has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture a prolonged record of alcohol and drug usage by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer up to around a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair samples are straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch piece of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For tests involving EtG, add-ons, and/or over 10 panels, it is advised to use 150mg of the sample. We advise measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be used, a comparable amount of body hair may be obtained. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair denotes any other hair types (such as facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the first step of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step includes checking that the sample was properly sealed and sent, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any extra data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug consumption in most samples, any positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening indeed necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to hair drug testing being the most challenging methodology to undertake.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review as part of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long surveillance duration: Hair drug tests can discover drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter surveillance duration.
• Challenging to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is exceptionally arduous, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical insights: Hair testing uncovers a timeline of drug consumption rather than merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect immediate use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing usually costs higher than other drug testing techniques.
• Variability in results: Elements such as hair color and personal hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests," the focus of the test is on the hair strand rather than the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Galestown, MD, hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. Its superior detection accuracy and reliability make it a preferred choice. Hair tests can unveil substance use patterns up to 90 days retrospectively, offering a broader detection window.

The comprehensive detection capabilities of hair tests beat urine analysis, which is limited to shorter detection periods. This ensures employers get a clearer picture of an individual's long-term substance use.

Extended Detection Window

The ability to detect drug use over an extended period is a major benefit of hair follicle testing in Galestown, MD. Hair tests can track substance use for up to 90 days, offering employers insight into an individual's historical drug use patterns.

A longer detection window means employers can implement more informed hiring decisions, understanding an applicant's or employee's substance use history beyond just recent activity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Galestown, MD, offer a tamper-resistant solution for drug testing needs. The method significantly reduces adulteration risks, ensuring the results remain reliable and free from manipulation.

Unlike other testing methods, the robustness of hair testing makes it nearly foolproof against attempts to alter or cheat the results, providing unquestionable data every time.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing in Galestown, MD provides the convenience of accessing testing services through numerous nationwide centers. This ensures tests are conducted swiftly and without hassle, no matter the location.

Our network of testing centers makes it easy for individuals and employers to schedule and conduct tests at their convenience, reducing wait times and bringing efficiency to the testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ordering, conducting, and receiving results of a hair follicle test in Galestown, MD, is a straightforward and confidential process. This ease of use addresses privacy concerns and ensures a worry-free experience for all parties involved.

Our process emphasizes simplicity, allowing individuals to engage in testing without the stress of complex procedures, while maintaining strict confidentiality throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Galestown, MD enjoys the benefits of affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in hair follicle testing. This ensures excellent value for companies, allowing them to invest in comprehensive testing without breaking the bank.

Our competitive pricing structure coupled with rapid result delivery makes hair testing accessible to businesses of all sizes, offering peace of mind financially and operationally.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

With precision and swiftness, hair follicle drug testing in Galestown, MD stands out for its high accuracy in detecting substance use. The process delivers quick results, ensuring that decisions based on drug testing are made reliably and efficiently.

Speed and reliability are paramount, and hair tests excel by providing accurate substance use data without the delays often associated with traditional testing methods. This makes them a trusted choice among employers.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Galestown, MD, compliance and peace of mind are key benefits of hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to workplace drug-free policies and mitigates legal risks while promoting a safer work environment.

Employing hair testing means that companies can rest assured they are using a method in line with stringent standards, securing their business and workforce from potential substance-related issues.

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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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