Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lake Arbor, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair samples have emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The growing strands of hair capture biomarkers, offering a prolonged view of alcohol and drug use. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can detect drugs and alcohol for a duration of up to three months. It is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp can provide 100mg, which is perfect for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to weigh the hair. If scalp hair is not an option, a similar amount of body hair can be gathered. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing process in the lab consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step where a sample is entered into the lab's system. It involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for drugs of misuse. While being an economical way to negate drug use in most samples, any positive result from Screening needs verification to be legally valid. Samples that appear positive in Screening require further confirmation.

In cases where a sample checks positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluids), explaining why hair drug testing is one of the most complex methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screen result uses GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples that screened positive undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The overall lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and meets ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection range.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Retrospective data provision: It outlines drug use over an extended period rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent consumption: It takes about 5-7 days before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing alternatives.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is actually done on the hair strand, not the follicle under the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Discover why hair follicle testing reigns over traditional urine tests in Lake Arbor, MD. With superior detection capabilities and a long window of evidence, this method ensures more reliable outcomes. Employers and legal bodies benefit from its high accuracy, showcasing a clear representation of an individual's history, unlike the limited snapshot urine tests provide.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Lake Arbor, MD, is unbeatable. Spanning up to 90 days, it offers a panoramic view into an individual's substance use, ideal for employers needing an exhaustive evaluation. It reveals patterns of use that short-term tests like urine cannot, providing a larger picture of employee reliability and history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Lake Arbor, MD, hair follicle tests shine as a tamper-resistant method for drug screening. The process significantly limits opportunities for sample adulteration, delivering untainted and reliable results. By choosing this advanced testing technique, you reduce risks of compromising the integrity of the test outcomes, offering peace of mind to all stakeholders.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Lake Arbor, MD, enjoy the benefits of conveniently located testing centers nationwide. Our local presence guarantees easy and hassle-free access to testing services, making it a simple task to meet your needs. With facilities everywhere, you are assured of quick service that fits into any schedule seamlessly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Lake Arbor, MD, is simple and confidential. Ordering, taking the test, and retrieving results are streamlined, addressing concerns of participant privacy and ease. This efficiency ensures a user-friendly experience, from initiation to completion, keeping the focus on accuracy and discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Lake Arbor, MD, our services deliver excellent value. Companies of all sizes benefit from competitive rates and the rapid delivery of results, reinforcing our commitment to offering peace of mind alongside fiscal prudence.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Experience fast, accurate, and reliable results in Lake Arbor, MD with hair follicle testing. This method stands out for its precision in detecting various substances, offering confidence for employers looking for trustworthy results. Not only does it streamline your process, it significantly minimizes false positives or negatives, making it the preferred choice for substance detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Lake Arbor, MD, hair follicle testing ensures employer compliance with drug-free workplace mandates. This testing method fosters peace of mind by reducing legal risks and promoting a safer workplace environment. The extended detection timeframe and observed collection method alleviate concerns of recent drug use being missed.

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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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