Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Colmor, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is widely recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft. When collected near the scalp, hair can indicate up to roughly a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch piece of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the preliminary processing of a sample into the lab's system. This step includes confirming that the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any other data absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial, rapid examination for substance abuse. Although it is a cost-efficient way to eliminate drug usage for most samples, a positive screen must be validated for legal admissibility. Any samples that yield presumptive positives during Screening require additional confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive at the Screening stage, more hair is extracted from the original sample for preparation in the Extraction phase. During Extraction, drugs are removed from the hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Lengthy detection period: Hair drug tests can determine drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a limited detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, resulting in more reliable results.
• Offers usage history: It delivers a timeline of drug use spanning a period, rather than just recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of detecting recent consumption: Drugs become traceable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is often costlier than various other testing techniques.
• Result variances: Elements such as hair color and individual growth variability can influence the levels of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests", the assessment is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle found beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Colmor, NM, hair follicle testing is superior to traditional urine tests. Hair tests provide broad detection capabilities and are more reliable in showcasing an individual's substance use history. They effectively minimize false negatives and ensure accurate results.

The benefits of hair testing over urine tests include the capability to chart substance use over extended periods. This aspect makes hair testing ideal for employers who demand clarity and accuracy in their drug enforcement practices.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Colmor, NM, offers an extensive detection window, capturing drug use for up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of potential illicit substance use by candidates or employees over a more prolonged period.

This longer detection window of hair follicle testing presents a complete view of an individual's drug use history, providing valuable insights and enhancing informed decision-making in employment screening processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Colmor, NM, provide a tamper-resistant testing method, enhancing sample integrity. The difficulty of altering hair samples ensures that test results remain authentic and reliable, giving trusted results.

The process of hair follicle testing significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, thereby delivering results that are unquestionable and offering peace of mind to stakeholders seeking accurate drug testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers across the nation, including those in Colmor, NM, our services are conveniently accessible, providing easy and prompt testing for all clients. This expansive network makes drug testing straightforward and stress-free.

The ease of access to our myriad nationwide locations ensures that testing is both quick and seamless. In Colmor and beyond, our centers offer hassle-free services that suit the schedules and needs of our clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Colmor, NM, is simple and maintains confidentiality. From ordering a test to receiving results, the steps are straightforward, ensuring a user-friendly experience while respecting privacy concerns.

Our confidential drug testing processes ensure that personal information is kept private. The ease of use emphasizes a stress-free experience, allowing clients to focus on the outcomes rather than the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Colmor, NM make hair follicle testing accessible for businesses of any size. These balanced offerings provide excellent value while ensuring quick delivery of results.

The competitive pricing paired with efficient testing services offers tremendous value, permitting companies to meet their testing requirements without incurring excessive costs or delays, ensuring business continuity and assurance.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests provide fast, dependable, and consistent results in Colmor, NM. Their accuracy in identifying substance use is unparalleled. These tests swiftly deliver results without compromising on precision, ensuring stakeholders receive reliable information promptly.

Compared to other drug testing methods, hair follicle tests offer high accuracy and quick turnaround times. They excel in detecting a wide array of substances accurately, making them a preferred choice for immediate and trustworthy drug analysis.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Colmor, NM, gain compliance and assurance by implementing hair follicle testing to enforce drug-free workplace policies. This approach reduces legal exposure while promoting a safe working environment, essential for business security.

Adopting hair follicle testing is not only about ensuring compliance but also about gaining peace of mind. It helps employers maintain a safe and legally compliant workplace, reinforcing trust and reliability in organizational operations.

Drug Testing Near Colmor, NM

Roy, NM

Ojo Feliz, NM

Colfax, NM

Cimarron, NM

Optimo, NM

Mills, NM

Maxwell, NM

Abbott, NM

Ocate, NM

Mora, NM

French, NM

Wagon Mound, NM

Miami, NM

Springer, NM

Levy, 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