Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Owings, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has evolved into an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug presence by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can deliver up to about a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion comprising approximately 200 hair strands (resembling the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, considered the perfect sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair is missing, an equivalent amount of body hair may be gathered. When we refer to head hair, it indicates scalp hair alone. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a sample into the laboratory's system. This process includes ensuring that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-effective means to exclude drug usage for the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be considered admissible in legal proceedings. Samples that yield a positive result in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample test positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most complex methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out through methods such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use over a period extending up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which offer a shorter detection period.
• Resistance to manipulation: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Historical insight: It provides a timeline of drug usage patterns over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to other drug testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests," the analysis examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Owings, MD, hair follicle testing proves superior to traditional urine tests. The extended detection time offers enhanced accuracy and reliability, making it a preferred choice for organizations seeking comprehensive insights into potential substance use.

Hair tests are less susceptible to tampering and provide a broader detection window. This makes them more effective in accurately identifying ongoing substance use issues, crucial for maintaining drug-free environments.

Extended Detection Window

One prominent advantage of hair follicle testing is the extended detection window. In Owings, MD, these tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, offering employers a comprehensive overview of both applicants and current employees' substance history.

This long-range detection capability is invaluable in ensuring that a meticulous review of drug usage patterns is conducted, helping employers maintain a safe and productive workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Owings, MD, hair follicle testing offers a distinct advantage in terms of its tamper-resistant nature. By significantly reducing the risk of sample adulteration, these tests deliver reliable and unmistakable results, which are essential for maintaining integrity in the testing process.

Employing hair testing ensures that the outcomes are unquestionable, providing much-needed assurance for employers and institutions concerned with accurate substance use analysis.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of nationwide testing centers ensures that in Owings, MD, individuals and companies have easy access to testing services. This accessibility ensures that testing is quick, straightforward, and hassle-free, essential for the seamless integration of drug testing policies.

Local and nationwide locations guarantee that tests are convenient to access, ensuring timely and effective substance use detection across multiple areas.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Owings, MD, ordering, attending, and receiving confidential results from a hair follicle test is simple and straightforward. The process is designed to respect privacy, ensuring that individuals can proceed with confidence knowing their data is protected.

The streamlined and easy process addresses privacy concerns effectively, providing peace of mind and ease of use, a crucial element for today’s busy lifestyles.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With affordable pricing and quick turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Owings, MD offers excellent value. Companies of all sizes can benefit from competitive pricing structures that do not compromise on quality or speed.

The combination of cost-effectiveness and rapid results enables businesses to ensure compliance and receive reliable and prompt testing outcomes, enhancing peace of mind for organizational leaders.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle tests stand out for their fast and accurate results. In Owings, MD, these tests offer precision in identifying substance use, ensuring high accuracy levels that are pivotal for employers and individuals alike. The quick turnaround time helps in making informed decisions promptly.

Choosing hair follicle testing aligns with the need for reliable results linked to substance detection. Its speed and precision provide a trustworthy option for those seeking thorough and swift analysis of drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Owings, MD enhances compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind to employers. These tests support legal risk reduction and foster a safe working environment through accurate substance monitoring.

Employers can meet regulatory demands efficiently, affirming their commitment to maintaining a healthy, drug-free workplace, which boosts overall organizational safety and security.

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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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