Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mitchellville, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair stores a lengthy history of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When harvested near the scalp, hair offers an approximate 3-month detection window for alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 strands of hair (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This step encompasses ensuring that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, issuing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid test for drugs of abuse. While Screening efficiently rules out drug use for most samples, a positive outcome requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples assumed positive necessitate secondary confirmation.

Should a sample be suspected as positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples with presumptive positives are cleansed as needed. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can track drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• Resilience against tampering: Hair drug tests are difficult to manipulate, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: Provides a record of drug use over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Variables such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly termed “hair follicle tests,” the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing holds several advantages over traditional urine tests, especially in Mitchellville, MD. Not only does it offer a longer detection period, but it also minimizes the chances of tampering. This superior method ensures that drug detection is both accurate and reliable, making it the preferred choice for employers who want a clearer view of their employees' substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

In Mitchellville, MD, hair follicle testing provides employers with an extensive view of substance use, tracing back up to 90 days. This prolonged detection window allows for a thorough examination of an applicant's or employee's past, offering a comprehensive perspective that surpasses more temporary testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests conducted in Mitchellville, MD are a tamper-resistant method, significantly reducing the likelihood of sample adulteration. This ensures that the results are trustworthy and nearly impossible to manipulate, providing a dependable measure for assessing substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Offering convenient access in Mitchellville, MD, our extensive network of testing centers nationwide makes scheduling a drug test easy and hassle-free. Our local facilities are strategically placed to ensure quick, straightforward processes, allowing individuals and companies alike to access our services without delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Mitchellville, MD, hair follicle testing is both a simple and confidential process. From ordering to receiving results, every step assures privacy and ease. Addressing concerns of discretion, customers can confidently and comfortably undergo testing without fearing breach of privacy or complicated procedures.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Mitchellville, MD are competitively priced, offering quick turnaround times. This combination of affordability and efficiency provides businesses of all sizes with exceptional value, ensuring peace of mind without compromising on quality or budget constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Mitchellville, MD residents benefit from hair follicle drug tests' precision and swiftness. These tests stand out by providing highly accurate detection of substance use. Their capacity to quickly deliver reliable results makes them an exceptional choice for both personal and professional screening needs, ensuring that decisions are based on sound, credible data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Mitchellville, MD, hair follicle testing brings peace of mind by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method not only reduces legal risks but also promotes a safer and more secure work environment, reinforcing trust and responsibility among employees.

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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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