Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dexter, NM

What it is, How it works

The practice of utilizing hair analysis has evolved into an influential means of identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Through the entrapment of biomarkers within the fibers of emerging hair, it offers an extended retrospective view of substance intake. When obtained from near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use over a period of up to approximately 90 days. Hair collection is effortless, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches in length, consisting of close to 200 hair strands (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil), taken nearest to the scalp will yield a specimen weighing 100mg—ideal for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional services, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weight of 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be utilized. When discussing head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory's database. This step ensures that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handles any supplementary data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening conducts a preliminary assessment for potential abuse substances. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage in a majority of cases, a positive result necessitates further confirmation to hold up in legal proceedings. Samples that likely test positive during Screening require subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample test likely positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, substances are retrieved from hair at a significantly reduced concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug analysis.

Confirmation of any positive findings from Screening is performed utilizing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS technologies. All samples that appear potentially positive undergo washing before confirmation when necessary. The comprehensive laboratory protocol from Accessioning through to Confirmation is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and accreditation standards ISO / IEC 17025.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assays can identify drug consumption for as long as 90 days, in contrast to urine assays which have a more limited detection range.
• Resistant to deception: It is exceedingly challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals usage history: It can showcase a drug use pattern over an extended timeframe, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Limited for recent use: Detection of drugs in hair requires approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug assays tend to be more costly than alternative testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair pigmentation and personal differences in hair growth can impact metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Despite being frequently termed as “hair follicle tests”, the procedure primarily examines the hair strand rather than the subterranean hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Dexter, NM, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing by offering extensive detection accuracy. While traditional urine tests capture recent drug use, hair analyses maintain a broader view, identifying substance history more reliably over time.
With superior accuracy, hair follicle tests provide a more thorough screening, especially beneficial for employers with strict substance use policies.

The comprehensive nature of hair testing makes it preferable, delivering results that withstand scrutiny and ensuring adherence to zero-tolerance norms. The inability to easily cheat these tests reinforces their reliability.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle assessments in Dexter, NM provide remarkable insights into an individual's substance history, identifying drug use from up to 90 days prior. This extended detection window is invaluable for employers seeking a complete overview of an employee's or potential hire's drug habits.

Unlike urine tests, which only cover recent use, hair tests give employers and substance abuse professionals a broader timeline of substance intake, proving crucial in maintaining a safe, accountable workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Dexter, NM, hair follicle testing significantly curtails the possibility of sample tampering. Given that hair samples are collected from participants directly, the opportunity to adulterate is almost nonexistent.
This stringent method ensures that outcomes of hair assessments are trustworthy, providing individuals and businesses with reliable, unequivocal insights into drug use history that withstands legal and professional evaluations.

The secure nature of hair testing adds an additional layer of confidence, ensuring that results are dependable and free from manipulation, reinforcing the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With our network encompassing nationwide sites and local locations in Dexter, NM, accessing hair follicle testing services is seamless and swift. Designed for convenience, these centers allow individuals and organizations to schedule assessments with minimum delay.
Regardless of geographic location, Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy, hassle-free access to accurate and reliable testing services.

This wide-reaching accessibility guarantees that individuals can undertake necessary testing promptly, maintaining their compliance with employment or legal obligations seamlessly and effectively.

Simple, Confidential Process

At Accredited Drug Testing in Dexter, NM, the process for hair follicle testing is crafted to be simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step respects privacy, ensuring client discretion.
Easy-to-follow procedures are established for convenience, with clear instructions to guide clients through the testing journey—from sample collection to hearing back—without hassle, ensuring confidence in the integrity and confidentiality of the process.

This simplicity in our approach ensures that clients experience clarity and support, making drug testing less daunting and more approachable for everyone involved, assuring respect for personal and professional privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing alongside quick turnaround times distinguishes hair follicle testing in Dexter, NM. Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable options for companies of all sizes, ensuring that superior drug screening solutions fit within budgetary constraints without compromise.
By choosing efficient hair testing, businesses gain value through accuracy and expedience, enhancing company drug policies cost-effectively and reliably.

Fast processing times ensure that results are delivered promptly, aiding rapid decision-making and maintaining business operations without unnecessary interruptions, all while adhering to fiscal considerations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Dexter, NM, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their fast and precise results. With a high accuracy rate in substance detection, these tests are a reliable choice for both employers and individuals seeking clarity and assurance in drug screening outcomes. Their rapid processing ensures that results are delivered efficiently, aiding prompt decision-making.

The reliability of hair follicle drug tests makes them an essential tool for anyone seeking to verify substance usage accurately. Their ability to swiftly detect a range of drugs gives them an advantage over other testing methods, ensuring peace of mind with every assessment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Dexter, NM can achieve compliance and reassure workplace safety through hair follicle testing. By instilling this method, organizations are better positioned to enforce drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks associated with substance use.
This type of testing supports a safe, responsible work environment, inspiring peace of mind among employers wary of drug-related incidents and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.

The assurance provided by hair follicle evaluations aids in upholding company standards and regulations, encouraging a work culture grounded in reliability and mutual respect.

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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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