Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Abbott, NM

What it is, How it works

The analysis of hair has gained recognition as an effective method in uncovering substance and alcohol consumption. Hair can offer an extensive record of alcohol and other substances by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair's expanding fibers. By collecting hair near the scalp, it can offer approximately a quarter-year detection span for alcohol and other substances. Hair is uncomplicated to gather, relatively resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.

A segment of hair measuring 1.5 inches and encompassing roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's diameter) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg, representing the suitable sample for screening and validation. For EtG, augmentations, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it's advisable to use 150mg of the sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab procedure for generating a drug test result comprises four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample into a lab’s database. This encompasses confirming that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any supplemental data entry not furnished by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening involves an immediate preliminary assessment for substances of misuse. While Screening offers a budget-friendly way to eliminate substance usage in most samples, court acceptance demands a positive screen to be verified. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening do necessitate an additional confirmation.

Should a sample indicate a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than through alternative means (e.g., urine or oral fluid), attributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.

Validation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo cleaning before confirmation if required. Starting from Accessioning to Confirmation, the comprehensive laboratory process is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection span: Hair drug tests can identify substance use for a period of up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests that have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Challenging to deceive: It is extremely challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Supplies historical data: It can depict a pattern of substance use over a timeframe, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: It takes roughly 5-7 days for substances to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though frequently labeled as "hair follicle tests", the actual test inspects the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing excels over traditional urine tests in Abbott, NM. The benefits include superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests can reveal substance use that urine tests might miss.

• Longer detection window.
• Highly reliable and challenging to tamper with.
• Rarely produces false results.

Extended Detection Window

In Abbott, NM, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, tracking drug use up to 90 days. This comprehensive window allows employers to evaluate an individual's substance history more effectively.

• Long observation period.
• Useful for historical drug use assessment.
• More informative than urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing significantly reduces adulteration risks in Abbott, NM. This robust testing method ensures reliable results, free from sample tampering.

• Challenging to manipulate.
• Observed collection process.
• Unquestionable and secure.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide and local testing centers in Abbott, NM simplify the drug testing process. We offer easy access to testing facilities across the country.

• Convenient locations.
• Effortless and hassle-free services.
• Accessible from any part of the nation.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Abbott, NM, hair follicle drug testing is both simple and confidential. Our process ensures privacy from ordering to result delivery.

• Confidential and secure ordering.
• Easy testing procedures.
• Discreet result distribution.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Abbott, NM, our competitive pricing and quick turnaround times set us apart. We provide quality hair follicle drug testing at great value.

• Cost-effective solutions.
• Rapid result availability.
• Excellent value for companies of any size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Abbott, NM, provides swift, accurate, and reliable results. Its precision in detecting substance use surpasses other methods, ensuring accurate identification of drug history.

• Quick turnaround time.
• High detection accuracy.
• Reliability for various substances.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Abbott, NM, hair follicle testing ensures employers comply with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing safety.

• Meets compliance standards.
• Mitigates potential legal issues.
• Promotes a safer work environment.

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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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