Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Monrovia, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means of detecting drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows, hair offers a long-term history of substance use. When collected near the scalp, hair can provide a detection window of up to about three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, with a lower likelihood of adulteration, and it is simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands, comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil, cut close to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for initial screening and confirmation. For tests involving EtG, add-ons, or beyond 10-panel assessments, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a proportionate amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other hair types, like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in processing a drug test result in the lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is input into the lab system. This step involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional information entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary assessment to check for drug use. Though cost-effective for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-acceptable. Samples testing presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

For samples that test positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. In this stage, hair is processed to extract drugs at lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), hence the challenging nature of hair drug screening.

Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation if required. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is subject to review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Tampering with a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Tracks usage over time: It reveals a timeline of drug use over months, not just immediate usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Detection of drugs in hair typically requires 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair hue and individual hair growth rate can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze strands of hair, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Monrovia, MD

Hair follicle testing provides superior advantages over traditional urine tests. It offers greater detection accuracy, covering a wider window of substance use history, thus delivering more reliable results. This testing process is a preferred choice of Monrovia's employers seeking conclusive outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Monrovia, MD

Hair follicle testing offers a lengthy detection period of up to 90 days, significantly longer than standard methods. This comprehensive timeline grants employers a more complete overview of a candidate’s or employee’s drug use habits, enhancing their decision-making process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Monrovia, MD

Hair follicle drug tests reduce the likelihood of sample tampering. The method’s inherent design makes it challenging to alter or compromise the integrity of samples, ensuring that the results remain reliable and trustworthy, supporting robust decision-making protocols.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Monrovia, MD

Accredited Drug Testing offers various testing centers nationwide, including local options in Monrovia. Tests are convenient, ensuring seamless access to services whenever needed, which supports employees and employers alike inclusively.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Monrovia, MD

The procedure for ordering, conducting, and receiving results from hair follicle tests is designed to be straightforward and discreet. We prioritize privacy and user-friendly interactions, thereby reducing any potential concerns and enhancing user confidence.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Monrovia, MD

Offering balanced pricing and swift results, our services provide companies with practical and economical drug testing solutions. This combination assures excellent value, as well as confidence, irrespective of company size or industry.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Monrovia, MD

The efficiency and precision of hair follicle drug testing in Monrovia stand out prominently. These tests offer high accuracy, effectively detecting substance use with unmatched reliability. The procedure ensures quick turnaround times, providing fast access to results for all concerned parties.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Monrovia, MD

Using hair follicle testing aligns with drug-free workplace policies. It aids in minimizing legal implications and enhances the safety and productivity of the workplace. With reliable results, employers gain confidence in maintaining a compliant and secure working environment.

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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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