Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Arrey, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair analyses have become a reputable means for detecting consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair strands offer an extensive history of substance intake by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the maturing hair. When the hair is obtained near the scalp, it can yield a detection period of nearly 3 months for drugs and alcohol. Obtaining hair samples is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) from the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for both screening and confirmation procedures. For EtG, additional service, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it’s advisable to use 150mg of the sample. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. In cases where scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. When speaking about head hair, it specifically denotes scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair categories (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal phases involved in the lab processing of drug test outcomes are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning comprises the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s framework. This procedure ensures that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfills any further data input absent in an electronic chain of custody setup.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid scan for illicit substances. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to negate drug use in most samples, a positive finding requires Confirmation to be legally acceptable. Any samples showing presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

When a sample yields a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, substances are extracted from hair at a notably reduced concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug analysis stands as the most challenging method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All samples presumed positive are cleansed prior to confirmation as required. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair label and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a reduced detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: It is exceedingly challenging to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Reveals usage history: It can unveil a trend of drug use over an extended timeframe, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent usage: It takes roughly 5-7 days for substances to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often costlier than other drug assessment approaches.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can alter the concentration of drug residues in the hair.

Note: Though frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the examination is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Arrey, NM highlights how hair follicle testing offers several advantages over traditional urine testing methods. Hair tests provide greater detection accuracy and reliability, evaluating substance use more effectively. Compared to urine tests, hair follicle tests are harder to cheat and offer a broader insight into long-term substance habits.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Arrey, NM explains that with hair follicle testing, drug use can be detected over a significantly extended period, up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance history, revealing patterns that might not be detectable with other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Arrey, NM demonstrates the resilience of hair follicle tests against sample tampering, significantly reducing the likelihood of adulteration. This ensures that the results are both reliable and unquestionable, providing peace of mind to employers and legal authorities alike.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Arrey, NM highlight how our expansive network of testing centers makes it easy and swift for individuals to access drug testing services. Whether in Arrey or elsewhere nationwide, our locations ensure a hassle-free experience with fast and convenient service.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Arrey, NM emphasizes that our hair follicle testing process is both straightforward and confidential. From ordering to results, privacy concerns are addressed comprehensively, ensuring that users experience both ease of access and assurance of confidentiality in each step of the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Arrey, NM assures businesses of all sizes that our hair follicle testing services provide competitive pricing with rapid turnaround times. This combination offers excellent value, along with peace of mind, ensuring comprehensive diagnostics are within reach without compromising efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Arrey, NM highlight the impressive accuracy and speed of hair follicle drug tests. These tests ensure high accuracy when detecting substance use, delivering dependable results. In Arrey, you can trust these tests to provide quick and precise outcomes that are not only verifiable but also unmatched by other testing methods in the market.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Arrey, NM emphasizes how adopting hair follicle testing supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, diminishing legal risks. Employers benefit from increased safety and assurance, knowing that their workforce is in alignment with company regulations and safety standards.

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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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