Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bingham, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair drug screening is highly regarded for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of substance use by capturing biomarker traces within the fibers of the strand. When collected close to the scalp, it can offer up to a three-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch sample of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or over 10-panel tests, 150mg is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be absent, a similar amount of body hair may be gathered. By head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial intake of a sample into the lab’s system. It involves checking that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial check for drugs. Though Screening is a cost-effective means to dismiss drug use on most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples indicating a presumptive positive in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If Screening suggests a presumptive positive, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are drawn from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging to perform.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair tests can detect substance use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter timeframe.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair test is very challenging, ensuring more accurate results.
• Reveals historical usage: It provides a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot indicate recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair tests are typically more expensive than other drug testing methods.
• Result variance: Hair color and individual growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the examination actually assesses the hair strand, not the scalp follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bingham, NM: Hair follicle tests excel over traditional urine tests by offering superior detection and reliability. Their extended detection window effectively tracks drug use history, unlike urine tests, which cover shorter spans. Hair testing ensures greater accuracy, reducing the risk of false negatives, thus proving essential for robust substance abuse monitoring.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bingham, NM: With the capability to detect drug use over up to 90 days, hair follicle testing provides employers a comprehensive perspective of an employee's drug history. This extended window surpasses traditional testing, offering detailed insights and empowering informed decisions about potential and current employees, fostering a safer, more transparent workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Methods in Bingham, NM: Hair follicle tests significantly reduce risks associated with sample adulteration. These tests offer reliable and unquestionable outcomes, crucial for maintaining test integrity. By minimizing opportunities for tampering, hair analysis ensures the accuracy and trustworthiness of results, reinforcing a commitment to honesty in testing procedures.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bingham, NM: Our extensive network of test centers nationwide guarantees swift, hassle-free service. Accessible facilities in Bingham and beyond mean employees and employers can easily find a center, minimizing downtime and ensuring tests are done with maximum efficiency, providing seamless support for workplace needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bingham, NM: The process of hair follicle testing is straightforward and respects privacy. Ordering, testing, and receiving results are streamlined to ensure ease of use while maintaining confidentiality. This secure approach ensures that all parties are comfortable and informed, promoting trust in the testing system without complicating procedures.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bingham, NM: Our competitive pricing and swift result delivery provide exceptional value. With budget-friendly testing options, businesses of any size can benefit economically from our services, enjoying an efficient return on investment while prioritizing workplace safety and compliance through reliable drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bingham, NM: Hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and efficiency. These tests provide definitive detection of substance use and deliver results promptly, making them an essential tool for those prioritizing accuracy and prompt outcomes. Compared to other methods, hair testing ensures high fidelity in monitoring substance usage, offering peace of mind.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bingham, NM: Adopting hair follicle testing fosters alignment with workplace drug-free policies, reduces legal exposure, and enhances security. This testing method supports rigorous standards, helping employers maintain compliance in a regulated environment, thereby ensuring a safe, productive, and legally sound workplace culture.

Drug Testing Near Bingham, NM

Polvadera, NM

San Marcial, NM

Scholle, NM

Ancho, NM

Carrizozo, NM

Lemitar, NM

Escondida, NM

Oscura, NM

Largo, NM

Coyote, NM

Socorro, NM

Luis Lopez, NM

Gran Quivira, NM

Claunch, NM

Carthage, NM

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews