Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cochiti, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for detecting substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When collected from near the scalp, hair can reveal information on alcohol and drugs up to an approximate 3-month period. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil), taken from near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is perfect for testing and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or screenings beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is advised. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning includes the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This process verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any unprovided data entry from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a fast initial check for drugs. While cost-effective to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive screening must be confirmed to be legally admissible. Presumptive positive samples in Screening need further confirmation.

If a Screening returns a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are derived from hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing more challenging.

Confirmation of a positive screen is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if needed. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection timelines.
• Hard to alter results: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, providing more reliable outcomes.
• Shows usage trends: Displays a timeline of drug use over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Drugs require about 5-7 days to register in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than alternative drug screening techniques.
• Result discrepancies: Variations in hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests," the examination targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Cochiti, NM, hair follicle drug tests outshine traditional urine tests due to enhanced accuracy and reliability. These tests offer a broader detection window, capturing a wider range of substance use over time.
Benefits over Urine Tests:

• Extended detection period
• Higher accuracy
• Lower cheating risk

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Cochiti, NM, provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days, surpassing traditional tests. This in-depth view helps employers understand the substance use history of both applicants and employees.
This capability is pivotal for making informed decisions based on an individual's historical substance use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Residents in Cochiti, NM, benefit from hair follicle tests that offer a robust defense against tampering. These tests minimize the risk of sample manipulation, delivering results that are both reliable and unquestionable.
Their design inherently reduces the chance of adulteration, offering peace of mind regarding test integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient testing is at your fingertips in Cochiti, NM, thanks to our numerous nationwide and local centers. These make access to drug testing services swift and hassle-free, catering to both individual and organizational requirements.
Our expansive network simplifies testing with locations readily available for quick and easy access.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Cochiti, NM, the hair follicle drug testing process stands out for its simplicity and confidentiality. From test ordering through result receipt, the process ensures privacy and ease for all involved.
This approach addresses privacy concerns and guarantees a straightforward, user-friendly experience for clients.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and quick turnaround in Cochiti, NM, makes our hair follicle testing an invaluable choice for companies. Our services assure peace of mind for establishments of all scales, providing outstanding affordability and efficiency.
The value lies in both the cost-effectiveness and prompt delivery of reliable test results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

At Cochiti, NM, hair follicle drug tests deliver swift and precise outcomes, pinpointing substance usage with high accuracy. These tests ensure timely, dependable results, showcasing superior detection abilities crucial for various stakeholders.
The robustness of these tests provides stakeholders with confidence, ensuring quick and reliable substance use detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies in Cochiti, NM. It mitigates legal risks while enhancing workplace safety and maintaining a drug-free environment.
Employers find peace of mind knowing that the testing method aligns with stringent compliance standards and workplace needs.

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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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