Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Loch Lynn Heights, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair samples can offer a detection period of up to approximately 90 days for alcohol and substance use. Hair is easy to obtain, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

An ideal hair sample for both screening and confirmation would consist of a 1.5-inch segment containing roughly 200 strands, equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil, yielding 100mg of hair. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary phases in processing a laboratory drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of initially integrating a sample into a lab’s system. This process includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry not already covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary check for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screening outcome must be verified to be legally recognized. Samples with preliminary positive results from Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample generates a presumptive positive result during Screening, additional hair is withdrawn from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to methods like urine or oral fluid testing, making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing presumptive positive results are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The continuous process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated in line with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests are capable of identifying drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a much shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is very difficult, yielding more reliable results.
• Offers historical insights: It reveals patterns of drug use over an extended timeframe, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Variabilities in factors such as hair color and individual hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing: In Loch Lynn Heights, MD, the superior detection offered by hair testing provides a more accurate and reliable method over traditional urine tests. Its ability to uncover substance use over a more extended period ensures a clearer picture of an individual's history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window: Hair follicle testing in Loch Lynn Heights, MD can reveal drug use for up to 90 days. This long detection period aids employers in gaining a comprehensive understanding of a candidate or employee’s substance usage history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method: In Loch Lynn Heights, MD, hair follicle tests significantly mitigate the chances of sample manipulation, ensuring authenticity and unquestionable results, which is a step ahead of other testing techniques.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations: Our expansive network of testing centers across Loch Lynn Heights, MD, and nationwide guarantee immediate and stress-free access to testing services for enhanced convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process: In Loch Lynn Heights, MD, our easy and discrete testing process ensures privacy and user simplicity from ordering to test-taking and receiving results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround: Our competitive pricing and swift result delivery in Loch Lynn Heights, MD provide exceptional value and assurance for businesses regardless of their size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results: In Loch Lynn Heights, MD, hair follicle testing provides speed and precision in delivering results. Its ability to detect substance use with high accuracy places this method ahead in reliability compared to other testing options.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers: Utilizing hair follicle testing in Loch Lynn Heights, MD, firms can align with drug-free workplace standards effortlessly, minimizing legal risks and bolstering workplace safety and peace of mind.

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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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