Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brimhall Nizhoni, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive history of substance usage by incorporating biomarkers within its strands as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair can indicate alcohol and drug usage for an approximate duration of 3 months. Collecting hair is easy, difficult to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp is enough to provide 100mg of hair, which is considered the optimal sample size for examination and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or screenings beyond 10 panels, it is suggested to use 150mg of the sample. It is advised to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. Specifically, head hair pertains only to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair categories (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing laboratory process consists of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This phase entails confirming that the sample was properly sealed and delivered, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any required data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Screening is an economical means to dismiss drug usage in most samples; however, a positive screen must be verified to be permissible in court. Any samples showing preliminary positivity in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample display preliminary positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. In this phase, drugs are isolated from the hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to the complexity of hair drug analysis.

Verification of any positive screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples with preliminary positivity undergo washing before verification as necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited for compliance under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug intake for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with a more limited detection timeframe.
• Difficulty to falsify: Hair drug tests are notably hard to manipulate, enhancing result reliability.
• Historical usage data: These tests can reflect a pattern of drug usage across time, beyond just recent habits.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It requires about 5-7 days for substances to become detectable in hair.
• Expenses: Hair drug testing typically incurs higher costs than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Influences like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: These tests are often termed "hair follicle tests"; however, the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Brimhall Nizhoni, NM favors hair follicle testing for its superior detection capabilities. Unlike traditional urine analysis, hair testing offers broader insight into past substance use, enhancing reliability and accuracy in drug detection.

Hair follicle testing excels over urine tests by providing a more robust detection period. This comprehensive method exceeds standard drug tests, granting employers more confidence in their policy enforcement strategies.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection ability of hair follicle tests in Brimhall Nizhoni, NM spans up to 90 days. This capability offers employers an in-depth view of an individual’s substance history, making it a vital tool for informed decision-making.

Through hair follicle analysis, Brimhall Nizhoni, NM employers can assess long-term drug use, allowing for better evaluation compared to short-term tests. This offers enhanced insight into an employee’s or candidate’s lifestyle choices.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Brimhall Nizhoni, NM significantly reduce tampering chances. These tests are nearly impossible to adulterate, providing employers with unquestionable results that uphold testing standards.

The integrity of hair follicle testing in Brimhall Nizhoni, NM ensures that sample tampering is effectively mitigated. This method reassures employers of the genuine reliability of the results received, safeguarding accurate outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Brimhall Nizhoni, NM, benefits from the convenience of Accredited Drug Testing's many testing locations nationwide. This extensive network ensures services are readily accessible, providing quick and effortless testing experiences.

The accessibility of testing locations across Brimhall Nizhoni, NM, underscores our commitment to efficient service. Clients enjoy streamlined testing processes through the availability of numerous centers, simplifying their testing requirements.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Brimhall Nizhoni, NM, Accredited Drug Testing offers a straightforward and private testing procedure. Clients can easily order tests, undergo sampling, and receive results while maintaining confidentiality and convenience throughout.

The discrete testing methods provided in Brimhall Nizhoni, NM, underscore our dedication to client privacy. The seamless process ensures that confidentiality concerns are addressed, enabling stress-free engagement with our services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and swift turnaround times define our services in Brimhall Nizhoni, NM. Clients enjoy exceptional value for hair follicle testing, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses of varying scales.

In Brimhall Nizhoni, NM, Accredited Drug Testing emphasizes competitive pricing models that do not compromise on speed. Prompt results deliver peace of mind, aligning with budgetary considerations of enterprises.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Brimhall Nizhoni, NM, hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled precision and speed in analysis. Renowned for their high accuracy, these tests are effective in identifying substance use, ensuring fast results that support critical decision-making processes.

Employers and legal authorities in Brimhall Nizhoni, NM rely on the consistent reliability of hair follicle tests. The rapid turnaround time, paired with their detailed accuracy, makes them a preferred choice for companies seeking efficient solutions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Brimhall Nizhoni, NM achieve compliance and safety using hair follicle tests. These tests help enforce drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks and elevating overall workplace security.

Hair follicle testing in Brimhall Nizhoni, NM assures employers of regulatory compliance. This method supports maintaining a safe working environment, instilling peace of mind through consistent adherence to drug 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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