Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Glenarden, MD

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective approach for revealing drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a prolonged overview of substance use, such as alcohol and illicit drugs. When cut near the scalp, hair can reveal a usage pattern for up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, modifying it is challenging, and it is convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) taken nearest to the scalp yields approximately 100mg of hair, which is optimal for analysis and confirmation. For additional testing parameters like EtG or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale for precise weighing. In cases where scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be utilized. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types (e.g., facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The primary procedures in the lab processing of drug test outcomes consist of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample within the laboratory's framework. This step encompasses ensuring the sample's seal and shipment accuracy, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data documentation absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary examination for drug presence. Although Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug consumption on most samples, a positive result must undergo confirmation to be legally valid. Samples that presumptively test positive in Screening mandate further confirmation.

Samples indicating presumptive positivity during Screening require additional hair from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly reduced concentration compared to alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), highlighting the complexities of hair drug screening.

Confirmatory tests for any preliminary positive outcomes are conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation when necessary. The entire processing, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug testing can trace drug consumption for up to 90 days, compared to the shorter detection timeframe of urine tests.
• Minimal chance of deception: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly unlikely, hence the results are more reliable.
• Offers historical insight: It outlines a pattern of substance use over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Higher cost: Generally, hair drug testing is costlier than other testing methodologies.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Though termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Glenarden, MD, hair follicle testing outperforms urine testing due to its superior detection range and accuracy.

• Hair testing can reveal substance use over a 90-day period, a significant advantage over urine testing's shorter window.
• The reliability of hair tests is far greater, as they are harder to tamper with compared to conventional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

In Glenarden, MD, the extended detection window of hair follicle tests is a significant benefit, allowing for a comprehensive review of a person's substance use history.

• Capable of tracing up to 90 days back, this method gives employers a detailed overview of an individual's past drug use.
• This broader detection range is crucial for businesses seeking thorough insights.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Glenarden, MD, is a tamper-resistant method that significantly lowers the risk of sample manipulation.

• Collecting samples in an observed setting ensures the integrity of each test.
• Due to its collection process, it is extremely difficult to alter or cheat the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Glenarden, MD, our hair follicle testing facilities are conveniently located nationwide, offering easy access to quality testing services.

• With numerous centers across the country, obtaining a test is quick and stress-free.
• The widespread availability of our services ensures minimal disruption to your schedule.

Simple, Confidential Process

Conducting hair follicle tests in Glenarden, MD, is a straightforward and private operation.

• The process of scheduling, sample collection, and receiving results is streamlined for ease of use.
• Your confidentiality is a top priority, ensuring comfort and discretion throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and swift results, hair follicle testing in Glenarden, MD, delivers excellent value.

• Our pricing structure is designed to be affordable for businesses of all sizes.
• Fast turnaround times help maintain business efficiency and quick decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests offer rapid, accurate, and reliable outcomes in Glenarden, MD. These tests are designed to swiftly detect substances, guaranteeing precise results.

• With quick processing times, hair follicle tests provide immediate insights into substance use.
• Their accuracy is unmatched, catching traces of drugs that may go unnoticed in other testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Glenarden, MD, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, providing peace of mind.

• This testing reduces legal liabilities and elevates workplace safety.
• It underscores an organization's commitment to maintaining a drug-free environment.

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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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