Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Glencoe, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for spotting drug and alcohol usage. Hair holds a long-term record of substances by locking biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When gathered near the scalp, hair offers a detection window of up to roughly 3 months for drugs and alcohol. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to send.

A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yields 100mg, the preferred sample for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair is absent, a similar amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair; "Body hair" encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for a drug test encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into the lab’s system, which includes ensuring the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening involves performing an initial rapid analysis for substances of abuse. Though a cost-efficient technique to discount drug use in most samples, a positive result from Screening requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that test positive in Screening undergo further confirmation.

When samples test positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction, where drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of a positive screening outcome is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation where necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is assessed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair tests can recognize drug usage up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Enhanced accuracy: It is notably hard to circumvent a hair drug test, thereby enhancing result reliability.
• Historical insight: Offers a record of substance use over time, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Lack of immediate detection: Drugs take about 5-7 days to manifest in hair.
• Higher expense: Hair drug tests often cost more than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and growth rate can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Glencoe, NM
Hair follicle testing offers significantly better detection accuracy and reliability than traditional urine tests. While urine tests track recent drug use, hair tests provide a comprehensive assessment of substance use history over months, greatly benefiting employers in making informed decisions based on a broader data spectrum.

• Longer detection window
• Harder to tamper with results
• More reliable outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Glencoe, NM
A key advantage of hair follicle testing is its ability to detect drug use over an expanded period of up to 90 days. This provides a thorough insight into an individual's substance use history, benefitting employers in assessing their workforce's adherence to policies aimed at maintaining a drug-free environment.

• Covers up to 3 months
• Offers comprehensive history
• Useful for background checks.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Glencoe, NM
Hair follicle tests offer substantial protection against sample adulteration, minimizing the possibility of manipulating results. With this robust method, employers, legal bodies, and individuals receive results they can confidently rely on, ensuring integrity in the testing process.

• Prevents sample tampering
• High reliability
• Trustworthy test results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Glencoe, NM
With our extensive network of nationwide testing centers, accessing drug testing services is seamless and convenient. Individuals and organizations find it easy to schedule tests at nearby locations, making the process quick and hassle-free with minimal disruptions.

• Widespread national coverage
• Easy scheduling
• Local centers available.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Glencoe, NM
The straightforward nature of hair follicle testing ensures both simplicity and confidentiality in ordering, sampling, and results receiving. It alleviates privacy concerns, providing an easy and secure process for all involved, delivering peace of mind through discretion at every step.

• Smooth procedure
• Protected privacy
• Secure handling of information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Glencoe, NM
Our competitive pricing coupled with rapid test result processing offers exceptional value to companies of all sizes. We deliver affordable testing solutions with prompt turnaround times, ensuring results are received quickly without compromising on quality or accuracy.

• Competitive rates
• Quick results delivery
• High quality assurance.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Glencoe, NM
When it comes to hair follicle tests, precision and speed are paramount. This testing method is highly effective in identifying substance use, offering rapid results with unmatched accuracy, serving individuals and employers alike who require quick turnaround times paired with trustworthy assessments.

• Instant results processing
• High accuracy rate
• Trusted by many sectors.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Glencoe, NM
Employing hair follicle testing supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks while enhancing safety. This method ensures that employers stay compliant, reducing corporate liabilities and fostering a safe work environment.

• Ensures policy compliance
• Reduces legal exposure
• Promotes workplace safety.

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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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