Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bibo, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly being recognized as an effective means to detect substance use. Hair traps biomarkers within its fibers, offering a prolonged record of alcohol and drug consumption. When collected near the scalp, hair can indicate substance use for up to a three-month period. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands, equivalent in thickness to a #2 pencil, when taken closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, supplementary tests, or panels exceeding ten, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for precise measurement of the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, a matching quantity of body hair is acceptable. The term "head hair" is exclusive to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The lab process for a drug test result entails four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a specimen into the laboratory database. It includes verifying the integrity and proper shipment of the sample, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any outstanding data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for potential drug misuse. It is a cost-efficient way to negate drug use in most samples; however, a positive finding must undergo further confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening require subsequent verification.

With a presumptive positive result at the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepared for the Extraction phase. Here, drug substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or saliva), contributing to the complexity of performing hair drug testing.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Hard to falsify: It is extremely challenging to falsify hair drug test results, ensuring higher accuracy.
• Historical Insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug usage over time, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent drug use: Detecting drugs in hair takes approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically incurs greater costs compared to other methodologies.
• Result variation: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bibo, NM is evident through several key advantages. Hair testing outshines traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. It detects drug use over a lengthy period, ensuring employers get a clear picture of an individual's substance history without being easily manipulated compared to urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

In Bibo, NM, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window, making it beneficial for employers who need to understand an applicant's or employee's drug history. With the ability to track substance use for up to 90 days, it presents a comprehensive view that far surpasses conventional testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Bibo, NM are renowned for their tamper-resistant nature, significantly curbing the risk of sample tampering. As a result, these tests present reliable and indisputable outcomes, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the drug testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Bibo, NM offers convenient nationwide testing locations, providing seamless access to drug testing services. With a network of centers, onboarding testing becomes quick and hassle-free, ensuring that individuals can find a suitable center near them effortlessly.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Bibo, NM remains simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns easily. From ordering the test to obtaining results, the steps are streamlined and user-friendly, ensuring that individuals receive feedback without undue stress or complexity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Bibo, NM provides competitive pricing on hair follicle drug tests along with fast turnaround times. These advantages present substantial value to companies of all sizes, ensuring businesses remain confident in their testing's cost-effectiveness and efficacy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Bibo, NM, the precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests have been highlighted as unparalleled. With unmatched accuracy in substance use detection, these tests stand out as the preferred option for those requiring fast and reliable results. Their effectiveness ensures that individuals and employers have confidence in the outcomes presented.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Bibo, NM can experience compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. By adhering to workplace drug-free policies, hair testing helps reduce legal liabilities and improve workplace safety, reinforcing the robustness of zero-tolerance policies.

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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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