Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ocean, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains indications of alcohol and other drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When acquired near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeline of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (around the girth of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg, which is the optimal amount for screening and validation. For tests involving EtG, additional elements, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Four primary steps are crucial in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially processed into the lab’s system. This involves confirming the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling out any additional data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screening must be validated to be court-admissible. Any samples with presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate confirmation through a secondary procedure.

If during the Screening phase, a sample is presumed positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are drawn out from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to conduct.

Confirmation of a positive result found in Screening is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before Confirmation, all samples assumed to be positive undergo washing as needed. The comprehensive lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation as well as accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can discover drug usage for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which have a more limited detection period.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, leading to more accurate outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a drug use history over time, not just recent ingestion.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and individual growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand rather than the scalp's underlying hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Ocean, MD, hair follicle tests outweigh urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. Compared to urine tests, hair tests provide a longer history of substance use, covering up to 90 days, making it difficult for users to evade detection.

Hair testing stands out in Ocean, MD, for its precise detection capabilities. Unlike urine tests that miss longer-term use, hair tests ensure employers have a robust assessment of their staff's substance habits.

Extended Detection Window

Ocean, MD places great emphasis on the hair follicle test's extended detection window, reaching up to 90 days. This allows employers keen insight into the long-term drug use patterns of employees or potential hires.

Hair testing in locations like Ocean broadens the detection scope significantly compared to traditional methods, offering a detailed perspective on substance history and ensuring the integrity of workplace drug policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Ocean, MD, is unparalleled. This method significantly reduces sample tampering risks, ensuring results that stakeholders can trust and act upon.

With hair follicle testing, Ocean employers can count on definitive evidence of drug history, as these tests are nearly impervious to alteration or contamination, safeguarding the validity of test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Ocean, MD's convenience of comprehensive testing services is unmatched, with nationwide centers ready for quick and efficient drug screenings. Accessible locations ensure seamless and hassle-free testing experiences.

The breadth of Accredited Drug Testing's network offers Ocean residents and businesses easy access to professional testing services, eliminating geographical barriers to achieving a drug-free workplace.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Ocean, MD, hair follicle testing is a straightforward and private process. Ordering, taking, and obtaining results are designed to protect individuals' privacy and ensure user-friendly experiences.

By upholding confidentiality, hair testing in Ocean addresses potential concerns about privacy, providing businesses and individuals peace of mind during drug screening processes.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our Ocean, MD hair follicle testing is characterized by competitive pricing. Fast turnaround times further enhance our service, making invaluable testing accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Affordability paired with prompt service in Ocean delivers excellent value, ensuring businesses can comfortably maintain drug-free policies without incurring prohibitive costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Ocean, MD, are fast, precise, and reliable, offering quick and highly accurate results when identifying substance use. Test accuracy is crucial for many, from employers to courts, looking to maintain integrity in drug testing methodologies.

Thanks to advanced technologies in hair testing, the results not only come swiftly but also assure stakeholders of their dependability, cutting down waiting time and reducing uncertainty about substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Ocean, MD, employers secure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method minimizes legal challenges and bolsters safety, promoting a more secure working environment.

Employers in Ocean benefit from the peace of mind that comes with reliable hair testing, knowing their workforce policies align with regulatory standards and support a safe, productive workplace.

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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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