Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Port Deposit, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly viewed as a powerful means for detecting drug and alcohol use. It traps biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair, offering a long-term history of substances consumed. When collected close to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window of up to about 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. Its collection is straightforward, it's relatively tough to adulterate, and it's easy to ship.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of approximately 200 strands of hair (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg, the optimal sample size for screening and conformation processes. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. When talking about head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test in a lab involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

The first step, Accessioning, incorporates the initial processing of a sample into the lab's system. This ensures the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial swift evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive result in screening mandates confirmation for court admissibility. Samples suggestively positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumably positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening result employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Suspected positive samples are washed before confirmation if necessary. The whole lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter window.
• Challenging to deceive: Hair drug tests are difficult to cheat, providing more precise results.
• Offers historical data: It can show a drug use pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days to be evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other testing methods.
• Different result variations: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although sometimes called "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis isn't on the hair follicle under the scalp, but on the hair strand itself.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Port Deposit, MD, stands out for its enhanced detection reliability over urine tests. Its results are more accurate, providing a critical advantage in confirming substance use.

Extended Detection Window

With a detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Port Deposit, MD, allows employers to gain a deeper understanding of an individual's substance use history, offering valuable insights.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Port Deposit, MD, are designed to be tamper-resistant. This testing method significantly lowers sample adulteration risks, ensuring the integrity of results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Offering convenience, our nationwide testing centers, including those in Port Deposit, MD, ensure fast and accessible service. Our hassle-free process guarantees an easy experience for all involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Port Deposit, MD, the process for ordering, taking, and obtaining results from hair follicle tests is straightforward and confidential, addressing users' privacy concerns seamlessly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our testing services in Port Deposit, MD, are competitively priced with quick turnaround times, offering excellent value for businesses of all sizes seeking reliable and cost-effective testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Port Deposit, MD, hair follicle drug testing is known for delivering speedy and precise results. Unlike traditional methods, these tests excel in pinpointing substance use with high accuracy, offering peace of mind in testing results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Port Deposit, MD, achieve compliance with drug-free policies using hair follicle tests. This method minimizes legal risks and enhances workplace safety, assuring all involved of the reliability of the testing protocol.

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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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