Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lochearn, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the fiber of its growing strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair offers a detection window of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to have 150mg of the sample. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to measure the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent volume of body hair may be obtained. The term 'head hair' pertains exclusively to scalp hair, while 'body hair' encompasses all other forms (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for a drug test result includes four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample within the laboratory system. This step includes ensuring the sample's seal integrity and proper shipment, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

The Screening phase conducts a preliminary rapid inspection for drugs of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation to be legally valid. Samples with a presumptive positive result during Screening demand a follow-up verification.

Should the Screening phase indicate a presumptive positive result, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction process. This stage extracts drugs from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening as the most challenging approach to implement.

Confirmation of any presumptive positive result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with a shorter timeframe.
• Challenging to manipulate: The difficulty in deceiving a hair drug test enhances result reliability.
• Reveals historical usage data: It illustrates a timeline of drug use, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual variation in hair growth can influence metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly called "hair follicle tests", the actual examination targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lochearn, MD, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing due to superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair tests provide extended detection capabilities.

• Reliable long-term detection up to 90 days.
• Greater accuracy minimizes false results.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Lochearn, MD benefit from hair follicle testing for its incredible detection period, spanning up to 90 days. This provides a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history.

• Captures a wider range of drug use history.
• Offers detailed substance history analysis.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Lochearn, MD, hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method that minimizes the risk of sample adulteration. This ensures reliable and unquestionable test results for all stakeholders.

• Reduces possibilities of sample tampering.
• Delivers consistent and trustworthy outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The availability of numerous testing centers nationwide, including in Lochearn, MD, makes accessing hair follicle testing convenient and hassle-free. Their widespread presence ensures easy service access.

• Quick access to nearby testing locations.
• Eliminates logistical challenges in testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lochearn, MD, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential, making it easy to order, take, and receive results. This ensures client privacy and ease of use.

• Ensures client confidentiality and privacy.
• Streamlined process for faster results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Lochearn, MD provides excellent value for businesses of various sizes, giving peace of mind at affordable rates.

• Cost-effective options available.
• Fast service without compromising quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Lochearn, MD offers precision and speed, making it an efficient method for detecting substance use. The accuracy of these tests is highly commendable, providing rapid and reliable analysis.

• The test quickly identifies drug presence, ensuring timely results.
• High precision leads to trustworthy outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Lochearn, MD, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with strict drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal risks and enhances overall workplace safety.

• Boosts adherence to legal and safety standards.
• Decreases potential legal complications.

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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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