Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Reid, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers in the strands, hair offers an extensive record of substance use over time. When collected near the scalp, it can provide a detection time frame of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, fairly challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to send.

A 1.5-inch lock of around 200 hairs (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp provides 100mg, which is the perfect amount for screening and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It's best to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four core stages in processing a laboratory drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the entry process of the sample into a lab's system. This involves checking the sample's seal and shipping status, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening consists of a preliminary swift test for drugs. Screening is cost-effective for excluding drug use in most samples; however, positive results need confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If the Screening process indicates a presumptive positive, more hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction preparation. Here, drugs are withdrawn from hair at a notably lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting hair drug testing as the most challenging method.

Confirmation for any positive screening result uses GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples testing presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation as required. The whole laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, which is longer than the duration covered by urine tests.
• High difficulty to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is virtually impossible, thus ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical usage data: It indicates a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs appear in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing approaches.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and personal growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The advantages of hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests are evident in Reid, MD. Hair testing offers exceptional detection accuracy and reliability, making it a preferred choice for many. Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide a longer detection window, ensuring a comprehensive look at past substance use, which outshines urine testing in thoroughness.

Extended Detection Window

One of the standout features of hair follicle testing in Reid, MD, is its extended detection window. Able to detect drug use up to 90 days back, it allows employers to gain a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history, essential for making informed employment decisions and maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is recognized for its tamper-resistant nature in Reid, MD. The method significantly lowers the risks of sample adulteration compared to urine tests, thereby providing results that are reliable and unquestionable. This confidence in accuracy supports its growing preference in various testing scenarios.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing centers, including those in Reid, MD, offer extensive nationwide locations for convenience. Our local centers ensure testing is quick, easy, and hassle-free, allowing individuals and organizations to access essential services without difficulty, maintaining our commitment to accessible drug testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Reid, MD, our process for ordering and taking hair follicle tests is designed to be straightforward and confidential. Privacy and ease of use are prioritized, ensuring that clients can trust in a seamless experience from initial request to receiving test results, addressing any concerns about confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Reid, MD, make hair follicle testing an excellent value. Our affordability does not compromise quality, ensuring companies of all sizes benefit from comprehensive testing services that fit their budgets while receiving results promptly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Speed and precision are key attributes of hair follicle drug tests in Reid, MD. These tests offer fast and accurate results, providing high accuracy in detecting substance use. The method is efficient, with quick turnaround times and reliable outcomes, ensuring that results hold up under scrutiny and meet the demands for reliable drug screening.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Reid, MD, ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. Employers gain peace of mind knowing they act within legal boundaries, reducing risks associated with drug use in the workplace and enhancing overall safety and productivity.

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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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