Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Contreras, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. If collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to about a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. It's straightforward to gather, hard to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, extra tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It's recommended to measure the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equal quantity of body hair may be used. When referencing head hair, it pertains specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four fundamental steps in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This process involves ensuring the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not included by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes a preliminary rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly method for ruling out drug use on most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples with a presumed positive result in Screening need a further confirmation.

In cases where a sample appears positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are drawn from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is verified under both 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 examinations can discover drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical data: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug examinations are typically pricier than other methods of drug testing.
• Result variations: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Contreras, NM, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy. By analyzing hair, a broader history of drug use can be unveiled. Whereas urine tests might miss certain periods, hair tests provide a continuous record. These traits make hair testing particularly effective for employers prioritizing thoroughness and reliability in drug detection efforts.

Extended Detection Window

Hair testing in Contreras, NM boasts an extended detection window of up to 90 days, a significant advantage over other methods. This prolonged period enables companies to gain deep insights into the substance habits of their staff, offering a reliable reflection of their drug use history beyond short-term detection capabilities.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug tests conducted in Contreras, NM are built to minimize sample adulteration risks, ensuring results are both reliable and credible. By using hair strands, the possibility of tampering is significantly curtailed, offering unparalleled confidence in the integrity of the drug testing process for all involved parties.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing locations scattered across the nation, Accredited Drug Testing ensures that those in Contreras, NM enjoy hassle-free and convenient access to testing services. Our extensive network simplifies the testing process, offering swift and easy access to drug and alcohol tests that fit individual scheduling and location needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The drug testing process in Contreras, NM is straightforward and confidential, simplifying how tests are ordered, conducted, and how results are disseminated. Assuring privacy and ease of use, the process is designed to address concerns efficiently, ensuring clients feel comfortable and secure throughout the testing timeline.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our cost-effective pricing and expedited turnaround times in Contreras, NM position us as a premier choice for firms, large or small. Our blend of affordability and speed guarantees excellent value, ensuring companies can maintain their competitive edge while upholding essential workplace safety and compliance standards.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Contreras, NM deliver swift and precise results, marking them as a gold standard in substance detection. Their accuracy surpasses that of traditional testing methods, efficiently pinpointing recent substance use. With cutting-edge technology, results are not only fast but also highly reliable, solidifying hair testing's reputation for dependability in detecting drugs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Contreras, NM, hair follicle drug tests provide unparalleled peace of mind by aligning with workplace drug-free policies. This method reduces legal exposure and fosters a secure and compliant work environment, all while ensuring employees adhere to health and safety standards, effectively mitigating potential workplace risks.

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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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