Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Becker, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair tests have emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair traps biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand, offering a historical view of alcohol and drug exposure. When obtained near the scalp, hair can provide roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hairs (around the width of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and verification. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the hair sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be acquired, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in processing a drug test result at the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial handling of a specimen within a lab’s framework. It involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data inputs not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial, quick assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method for excluding drug presence in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be valid in court. Any presumptively positive samples from Screening must undergo further confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. At this phase, substances are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing the hardest methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are rinsed before confirmation, as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can identify substance use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Provides historical data: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over a duration, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs take around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Even though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests in Becker, NM. With superior detection capabilities, hair tests can reveal substance use history over extended periods, making them a preferred choice for many organizations aiming for a comprehensive assessment of an individual's history.

Extended Detection Window

Offering an extended detection window, hair follicle testing in Becker, NM, provides an overview of drug use for up to 90 days. This longer frame allows employers a more thorough understanding of a candidate or employee's substance history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests significantly minimizes the risk of sample adulteration in Becker, NM. This reliability ensures that the results obtained are unquestionable and trustworthy, offering peace of mind.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous nationwide testing centers, including convenient locations in Becker, NM, accessing hair follicle testing services is hassle-free. This wide network ensures fast and easy access for individuals and companies alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Becker, NM, is both simple and confidential. From order to result delivery, each step is designed to protect privacy while ensuring ease of use, addressing common concerns effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Becker, NM, hair follicle testing services offer affordable pricing and quick turnaround times. This balance of cost-effectiveness and speed provides excellent value, catering to companies of all sizes eager for reliable drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Becker, NM, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their quick and precise results. This method stands out for its high accuracy, effectively detecting a range of substances, providing a reliable evaluation for employers and other stakeholders.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies, hair follicle testing in Becker, NM, offers employers peace of mind. It minimizes legal risks and enhances safety, making it a valuable tool in maintaining a secure 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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