Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Krider, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly valued as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. The hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the strands' fibers. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively challenging to adulterate, and easily shipped.

A 1.5-inch portion containing roughly 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil in size) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. When scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. By head hair, we exclusively indicate scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in processing a drug test result in a laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the fundamental processing of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This ensures correct sealing and shipping of the sample, assignment of a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completion of data entry not included by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial rapid drug abuse assessment. While it's a cost-effective modality to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be court-admissible. Any samples that result in a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

Upon a presumptive positive outcome in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample and readied for Extraction. At this point, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lesser concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most complex methodology to execute.

All confirmed positive screening results are verified via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive specimen undergoes washing before confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection window.
• Low likelihood of cheating: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Reveals historic data: It can depict a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations might influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Krider, NM, hair follicle testing outperforms standard urine tests due to its enhanced accuracy and reliability. Hair testing's longer detection period, often up to 90 days, provides a more comprehensive understanding of substance use, unlike the limited timeframe of urine tests.
Thus, employers and other professionals find hair analysis more trustworthy, minimizing false negatives and improving workplace safety measures.

Extended Detection Window

With an extensive detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Krider, NM, provides employers a thorough insight into a person's drug history. This prolonged observation span aids in better evaluating applicants and current employees,
setting it apart from shorter-term screening alternatives, thus facilitating informed workforce management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests greatly curtail the potential for tampering, offering Krider, NM, unmatched reliability in drug screening. The testing method's intrinsic resistance to adulteration ensures authenticity in results,
proving essential for employers and legal systems where integrity and trustworthiness of information are paramount.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Krider, NM offers accessible, convenient testing services through Accredited Drug Testing's nationwide centers. These locations provide quick, hassle-free access to hair follicle tests,
ensuring clients experience no delays in their screening needs, vastly simplifying the logistics of drug testing for organizations and individuals alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Krider, NM is uncomplicated and confidential, allowing easy ordering, sampling, and result reception.
This streamlined procedure tackles privacy concerns head-on, assuring clients of discreet and straightforward drug testing experiences,
thus enhancing user confidence in the service offered.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Krider, NM make hair follicle testing an economically sensible choice.
Companies of varying sizes benefit from the excellent value linked with our services, ensuring fast results and affordability, generating reassurance among employers seeking to implement effective substance use monitoring practices.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Delivering fast and precise outcomes in Krider, NM, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their high accuracy. They efficiently detect substances, significantly outperforming other testing methods in identifying recent and past drug use.
The precision of hair analyses ensures reliable results, supporting organizations in maintaining strict drug-free environments and efficient resource management.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Krider, NM benefit from hair follicle testing, aligning with drug-free workplace policies. This testing approach mitigates legal risks, fosters a safer work environment,
and helps ensure adherence to regulatory requirements. As a result, companies enjoy peace of mind, knowing they employ state-of-the-art methodologies in maintaining organizational integrity.

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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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