Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Black Rock, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is acknowledged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a long-term account of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When collected from near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a roughly 3-month detection period for substances. Collecting hair is easy, tough to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample 1.5 inches in length, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil), yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional specifications, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a quantity of 150mg is advised. It is recommended to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a similar volume of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result includes four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary processing of a sample in a lab’s system. This process ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishes any additional data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drug presence. While cost-effective for ruling out drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for it to be legally defensible. Any presumptively positive samples from Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted at a significantly lower concentration in hair than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are washed before confirmation, as required. The laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is very difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historic usage information: It shows a pattern of drug use over time, rather than recent use alone.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can affect drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the procedure analyzes the strand of hair, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Black Rock, NM, hair follicle testing offers several advantages over traditional urine tests.

• Extended detection window.
• Less prone to tampering.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Black Rock, NM stands out due to its extensive detection window, which can reveal drug use for up to 90 days.

• Comprehensive assessment of past drug use.
• Ideal for pre-employment screening.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Black Rock, NM reduces the risk of tampering with samples, ensuring credible results.

• Observed collection prevents manipulation.
• Reliable and unquestionable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessing drug testing services in Black Rock, NM is straightforward with our numerous nationwide and local testing centers.

• Convenient locations available.
• Easy and hassle-free appointments.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Black Rock, NM for hair follicle tests is both simple and confidential.

• Easy ordering and testing procedures.
• Privacy is always respected.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and fast turnaround times make our hair follicle testing services in Black Rock, NM an excellent value.

• Competitive pricing structures.
• Quick, reliable results for peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests make them stand out in Black Rock, NM. These tests showcase a high degree of accuracy in identifying substance use.

• Fast results you can trust.
• High accuracy ensures reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Black Rock, NM can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing.

• Adheres to drug-free workplace policies.
• Reduces legal risks substantially.

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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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