Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Urbana, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. Collected near the scalp, hair allows for a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. The process for collecting hair is uncomplicated, not easily tampered with, and is straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hairs (around the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a specimen quantity of 150mg is advised. It is recommended to use a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is absent, a comparable quantity of body hair may suffice. Referring to head hair specifically denotes scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal phases involved in the laboratory assessment of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory's records. This step involves confirming the integrity and proper transportation of the sample, assigning it an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an expedited preliminary analysis for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to reject drug use for the majority of samples, a positive outcome demands confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples testing presumptively positive during Screening require a secondary confirmation.

For samples identified as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than those found in alternative methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any screening-positive result is executed utilizing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any sample with a presumptive positive result undergoes washing before the confirmatory phase as necessary. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is supervised under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which exhibit a briefer detection period.
• Difficult to falsify: A hair drug test is challenging to falsify, thereby enhancing the reliability of the outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It can trace drug usage patterns over a span of time, unlike recent use only.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: A timeframe of approximately 5-7 days is required before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier compared to alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Influences like hair color and personal variations in hair growth might impact drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the assessment actually evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Urbana, MD, the choice between hair follicle and urine tests often comes down to accuracy. Hair testing surpasses urine analysis in detecting substances used over extended periods, giving it a significant edge in thoroughness and dependability.

With a superior detection range, hair tests are favored by employers for comprehensive assessments of substance use over the past months, unlike urine tests that offer more limited windows.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Urbana, MD is revered for its extended detection window, capturing drug use history up to 90 days prior. This extended view enables employers to understand an applicant or employee's substance habits over a substantial timeframe.

Unlike the shorter period acknowledged by urine testing, this method provides insight into long-term drug use patterns, aiding in making informed employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The integrity of hair follicle testing in Urbana, MD lies in its resistance to sample tampering. Unlike other methods that may be susceptible to manipulation, hair tests deliver results that are both consistent and difficult to alter.

By ensuring a reliable testing process, the risk of adulteration is significantly reduced, thus offering results that hold up under the utmost scrutiny.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide accessibility of testing centers makes it simple for Urbana, MD residents to access drug testing services. With locations spanning the entire country, getting a test is a straightforward task.

This extensive network allows for a hassle-free experience, ensuring that individuals can quickly and conveniently undergo necessary testing without undue delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Urbana, MD, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to the receipt of results, we guarantee privacy at every step to ensure comfort.

The user-friendly process supports clients in obtaining accurate results without compromising their confidentiality, alleviating concerns tied to privacy and ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing structures, clear from initial engagement, makes hair follicle testing in Urbana, MD not only effective but also affordable. Our quick turnaround time further adds value, catering to businesses of all sizes.

These features strengthen our commitment to provide economic solutions without sacrificing the quality or speed that companies expect from drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Urbana, MD prioritizes fast and efficient testing, with hair follicle drug tests offering remarkable precision. These tests deliver swift and dependable substance detection results, ensuring that employers receive high fidelity information regarding substance use.

The advanced technology behind hair follicle tests enables the speedy processing of results. This ensures that any drug detection carried out is accurate, with fewer chances of false positives or negatives, thereby providing reliable insights.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Urbana, MD ensures compliance with rigorous workplace drug policies. It lowers legal liabilities and boosts workplace safety by delivering conclusive drug test results.

Employers benefit from peace of mind, knowing their safety protocols are reinforced by using a method renowned for its accuracy and resistance to falsification.

Drug Testing Near Urbana, MD

Bartonsville, MD

Linganore, MD

Ballenger Creek, MD

Comus, MD

Monrovia, MD

Friendship, MD

Buckeystown, MD

Green Valley, MD

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews