Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bard, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as a formidable resource in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the growing hair shaft's strands. When taken from the scalp's vicinity, hair can reveal a detection span of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A hair specimen of 1.5 inches, comprising roughly 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil), provides 100mg of hair, considered an ideal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is suggested to collect 150mg of the sample. Use a jeweler’s scale for precise weighing. If scalp hair is not an option, a similar amount of body hair is acceptable. When we mention head hair, we mean solely scalp hair while body hair refers to all other hair varieties (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test consists of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning initiates the sample's processing within a laboratory’s framework. This step verifies the sample’s proper sealing and delivery, allocates a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any pending data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs a rapid preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. Even though Screening is economically efficient in negating drug usage in most samples, a confirmed positive screen is essential for legal admissibility. Any samples indicating a positive result in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

Should a sample show positive indications in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, hair samples are processed to extract drugs at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid). This makes hair drug screening notably challenging to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screenings is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples showing provisional positives are cleansed before confirmation, if necessary. The complete procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated in accordance with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests are capable of identifying drug use for periods up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a narrower detection time.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceptionally difficult, thereby ensuring greater result accuracy.
• Offers chronological insight: It reveals patterns in drug use over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent intake: It requires about 5-7 days for drug traces to be evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier compared to alternative methods.
• Results may vary: Individual factors like hair color and differences in hair growth rates can impact the levels of drug metabolites within hair strands.

Note: The test frequently termed as "hair follicle test" targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing substance testing options in Bard, NM, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine tests due to its superior detection capabilities. Its broad analysis window offers a more comprehensive snapshot of historical drug usage, ensuring greater accuracy in substance identification.

Beyond precision, hair testing is a preferred alternative for its reliability and resilience against deceptive practices. Unlike urine tests, which are prone to manipulation, hair samples remain largely inaccessible to tampering, enhancing overall testing confidence.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Bard, NM, provides an extended detection period of up to 90 days, significantly longer than other testing methods. This allows employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use history.

Offering a clear picture of an applicant or employee's past, the hair follicle test grants organizations in Bard a deeper insight into long-term drug use patterns, thereby supporting informed decision-making processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the standout advantages of hair follicle testing in Bard, NM, is its resistance to tampering. The robustness of hair samples curtails the risk of adulteration, ensuring the accuracy and trustworthiness of test results.

Employers can be assured of the integrity of hair follicle drug tests, as they effectively mitigate risks associated with dishonest sample manipulation, preserving the authenticity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenience with nationwide testing centers, including local options in Bard, NM, enabling easy access for all. Our extensive network ensures testing remains straightforward and efficient for residents and businesses alike.

With a presence throughout Bard and beyond, our centers are poised to accommodate varied testing needs, ensuring a seamless experience through our accessible locations and professional services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Bard, NM, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential, ensuring user ease and privacy. Ordering, processing, and obtaining results are streamlined to enhance comfort and reliability.

By prioritizing confidentiality, we mitigate privacy concerns, guaranteeing that all steps, from testing to results, maintain discretion without compromising on simplicity or convenience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Bard, NM, Accredited Drug Testing boasts competitive pricing and rapid turnaround for hair follicle testing, providing exceptional value to businesses of all sizes. Our economical rates ensure that thorough drug testing remains accessible to everyone.

With a commitment to affordability, we deliver timely and accurate results, meeting both budgetary and operational needs efficiently, enabling peace of mind through cost-effective solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test is recognized for its unparalleled precision and swiftness, ensuring accurate detection of substance use in Bard, NM. By analyzing the integumentary evidence, individuals and employers can trust that the results reflect true substance use patterns.

In Bard, NM, the efficiency of hair testing lies in its streamlined process, allowing individuals to obtain rapid, reliable results. This swift turnaround time from collection to reporting makes it a preferred choice for those seeking prompt action based on substance use data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Bard, NM, turn to hair follicle testing to confidently uphold workplace drug-free policies. This reliable testing method minimizes legal liabilities while enhancing safety and compliance across the workforce.

By utilizing hair testing, companies fulfill their commitment to creating a safe work environment, meeting industry standards, and maintaining peace of mind against potential substance-related issues.

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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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