Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gran Quivira, NM

What it is, How it works

Seen as a significant asset for identifying substance use, hair testing is quite effective. Hair offers an extended overview of alcohol and drug intake by trapping markers within the strands as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair enables detection of substances for roughly three months. The collection process is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is hassle-free.

To collect an ideal screening and confirmation sample, one should gather a 1.5-inch portion consisting of about 200 hair strands (similar to the width of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp to obtain 100mg of hair. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, it's advised to collect 150mg. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair isn't present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. The term 'head hair' specifically refers to scalp hair, while 'body hair' encompasses all other variations (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing for determining a drug test result consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the process of initially inputting a sample into the laboratory’s system. This step involves confirming that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

The Screening stage involves a preliminary, swift check for substances of abuse. Although screening is a cost-efficient approach for ruling out drug use in most samples, receiving a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be valid in legal contexts. Any sample indicating a likely positive result in Screening needs further confirmation.

Should a sample be likely positive from Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original collection for the Extraction stage. Here, substances are extracted at much lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), contributing to the complexity of hair testing.

The Confirmation stage for any positive screening involves techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation. Each step from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and certified with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can determine drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited timeframe.
• Challenging to subvert: Cheating a hair test is nearly impossible, bolstering accuracy.
• Historic insight: Hair testing provides a timeline of substance use, not just immediate intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent consumption: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair tests are usually pricier than other testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Hair characteristics like color and growth variability can impact metabolite concentration.

Note: Referred to as "hair follicle tests", the examination targets the strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Gran Quivira, NM, hair follicle testing outpaces traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy. This method extends the detection window, provides more reliable samples, and diminishes the chances of tampering. Employers and professionals benefit from its capacity to reflect long-term drug history unlike the shorter window provided by urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Gran Quivira, NM embraces hair follicle testing for its extended detection capability—up to 90 days. This method provides employers with a detailed view of an individual's substance use history, ensuring a thorough background check. It is beneficial for long-term awareness, unlike limited-duration methods which miss longer-term substance use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Gran Quivira, NM, hair follicle testing serves as a robust solution against sample adulteration. This test greatly reduces risks of tampering, offering indisputable results. Its structured and secure process provides stakeholders with dependable outcomes, reinforcing its position as a trustworthy testing method free from external manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Gran Quivira, NM, and across the nation, convenient testing centers deliver easy accessibility. With locations spread widely, individuals and organizations find it simple to access testing services without hassle, ensuring rapid and straightforward procedures. This extensive network eliminates logistical challenges, facilitating prompt and efficient testing experiences.

Simple, Confidential Process

Gran Quivira, NM emphasizes a simple and confidential process for hair follicle tests. From order to results, each step prioritizes user privacy and ease of access. This assurance protects individual information while simplifying the journey from testing to receiving outcomes, effectively addressing privacy and usability concerns known to stakeholders.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround, our services in Gran Quivira, NM provide excellent value for enterprises of all sizes. The balance of affordability and speed reinforces confidence, inviting companies to benefit from efficient and effective testing without financial strain, securing peace of mind through prudent cost management.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle tests in Gran Quivira, NM offer unmatched precision and speed. Their high accuracy in substance detection makes them a reliable choice for quick and trustworthy results. Their comprehensive nature ensures that substances are detected with minimal delay, offering stakeholders confidence in the outcomes. This reliable method stands out as both fast and thorough.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Gran Quivira, NM can ensure compliance with drug-free policies by choosing hair follicle tests. This approach reduces legal liabilities while enhancing workplace safety. By relying on comprehensive and unbiased detection, organizations can maintain a safe environment, giving them confidence and peace of mind in their policies and procedures.

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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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