Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hayden, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an efficient method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. Collected near the scalp, hair samples can offer up to a 3-month detection period for substances. The acquisition of hair is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and transport is uncomplicated.

A 1.5-inch section, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil), is ideal for both screening and confirmation, providing around 100mg of hair. For EtG, additional, or tests comprising beyond 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing is recommended. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent weight of body hair can be used. The term head hair refers solely to scalp hair, while body hair includes facial, axillary, and other types.

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is processed into the laboratory system. This phase involves ensuring that the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary method to check for drug abuse. Although it is cost-effective for negating drug use in the majority of samples, a positive Screening result requires confirmation to be validated in legal settings. Presumptive positive samples in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is utilized from the original specimen for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration than those in other methods such as urine or oral fluid, which illustrates why hair drug screening is technically challenging.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that are presumptively positive are washed prior to Confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation as well as the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Hard to tamper: The accuracy of hair drug tests is high due to difficulty in tampering.
• Historical information: It reflects a pattern of drug use over time, beyond recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs are detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Generally more costly than alternate drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Influences such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests," these tests actually analyze the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Hayden, NM
Hair follicle testing outperforms urine tests thanks to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests offer extensive detection windows, exposing substance use over longer periods. Additionally, the observed collection process diminishes the risk of tampering, making hair tests a trustworthy choice for employers in Hayden enforcing drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Hayden, NM
One remarkable advantage of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window, reaching up to 90 days. Employers in Hayden benefit from a broader understanding of an individual's substance history. A long detection period ensures comprehensive analysis of an employee’s past behaviors, offering deeper insights than the brief snapshots urine tests provide.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Hayden, NM
Hair follicle tests are highly resistant to tampering, offering results that are difficult to dispute. Unlike other methods where adulteration is possible, the hair test remains largely impregnable to manipulation. For organizations in Hayden, this means increased trust in the integrity of the results, ensuring that they reflect the true substance usage of employees or applicants.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Hayden, NM
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenience with testing centers across the nation, including Hayden. This accessibility facilitates quick and hassle-free testing experiences for both employers and individuals. Our local centers ensure that Hayden residents have easy access to reliable drug testing services without unnecessary travel or delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Hayden, NM
The drug testing procedure in Hayden is crafted for simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to sampling and receiving results, each step prioritizes privacy and ease of use. This streamlined process addresses privacy concerns effectively, enabling individuals and employers to comfortably engage with the testing services offered.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Hayden, NM
Our competitive pricing structure ensures that companies in Hayden receive excellent value for the drug testing services. Coupled with rapid turnaround times, our testing solutions provide both affordability and speed, ensuring businesses of all sizes gain from prompt and precise drug test results, maintaining their operational and safety standards.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Hayden, NM
Hair follicle testing in Hayden provides fast and reliable results. The precision of these tests ensures accurate detection of substance use. The efficiency of the process means results are delivered promptly, allowing for immediate actions if necessary. The collected samples undergo stringent analysis, ensuring the reported findings are both precise and reliable.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Hayden, NM
By choosing hair follicle testing, Hayden employers ensure compliance with strict workplace drug-free policies. This choice mitigates legal risks, promoting a safer work environment. The assurance provided by these tests fosters peace of mind, enabling employers to focus on business operations rather than potential policy violations.

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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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