Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lusby, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as an effective method for tracking drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When procured directly from the scalp, hair can deliver up to a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drug use. Hair is easy to collect, relatively tough to tamper with, and straightforward to send.

A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 strands of hair (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) taken nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the perfect quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advisable. We recommend using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair alone. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory assessment for a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing into the lab's system. This step validates that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data processing absent from an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening conducts a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening offers a budget-friendly approach to disregard drug consumption for most samples, any positive screening demands confirmation to be legally valid. Samples marked as presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a sample is flagged as presumptively positive at the Screening phase, supplementary hair is extracted from the primary sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn from hair at a much lower concentration than with other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why the hair drug test is one of the most challenging methodologies.

Verification of any positive result from Screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive undergo a wash before confirmation as needed. The whole laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation complies with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Resilience against deception: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing the reliability of the results.
• Offers historical insights: It provides a timeline of drug usage over an extended period, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent consumption: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to be evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair tests typically incur higher costs than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal differences in growth can affect drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the subscalp follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Lusby, MD
Hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage over traditional urine testing through superior detection accuracy and reliability. It not only identifies drug use over an extended period but is also less susceptible to tampering. This distinction makes it preferable for those needing reliable results in zero-tolerance environments.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Lusby, MD
Hair follicle testing provides a remarkable lookback period, detecting drug use for up to 90 days. This extended detection window is invaluable for employers, granting a thorough understanding of an applicant's or employee's substance use history. It provides a more comprehensive view, enhancing decision-making in employment scenarios.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Lusby, MD
Hair follicle testing significantly mitigates the risk of sample adulteration, offering reliable and unquestionable results. This robust testing method ensures that sample integrity is maintained, safeguarding the accuracy of outcomes and instilling confidence in diverse testing situations.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Lusby, MD
Our extensive network of nationwide testing centers, including those in Lusby, MD, ensures quick and hassle-free access to testing services. This accessibility makes it simple for individuals and businesses to reach preferred destinations efficiently, emphasizing convenience in every test conducted.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Lusby, MD
We prioritize a simple and confidential testing process, ensuring ease from ordering to obtaining results. Our procedures safeguard privacy, offering users the comfort of knowing their information is secure and the process is straightforward, promoting an accessible and user-friendly experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Lusby, MD
Our competitive pricing structures and rapid turnaround times provide excellent value for businesses of all sizes. We strive to deliver cost-effective solutions, ensuring access to top-tier testing services without excessive costs, offering businesses peace of mind with fast and reliable results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Lusby, MD, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and speed. This testing method is renowned for its high accuracy in identifying substance use, offering individuals and businesses the confidence they need in results. Whether it's for workplace testing or personal assurance, the dependability of hair follicle tests is unparalleled, ensuring rapid and trustworthy outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Lusby, MD
Employing hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal risks and boosting workplace safety. The consistency and reliability offered by this method provide a sense of security for employers, promoting a healthier work environment.

Drug Testing Near Lusby, MD

California, MD

Solomons, MD

Chesapeake Ranch Estates, MD

Broomes Island, MD

Calvert Beach, MD

St. Leonard, MD

Drum Point, MD

Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point, MD

Long Beach, MD

Saint Leonard, MD

Calvert Beach-Long Beach, MD

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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