Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lemitar, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a potent method for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug usage through the entrapment of biomarkers within the fibrous structure of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to around three months for substances and alcohol. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. The term 'head hair' specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas 'body hair' pertains to other types (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedures for processing a drug test result comprise four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a specimen into a lab’s system, which includes verifying that the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing outstanding data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial swift assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly method to rule out drug use in the majority of cases, a positive result must be confirmed to be court-admissible. Any samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening mandate a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample indicate a presumptive positive outcome in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and made ready for Extraction. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair accreditation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, compared to the shorter detection period of urine tests.
• Difficult to falsify: It is highly challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result reliability.
• Offers historical insight: This test reveals a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for substances to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite being often described as "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lemitar, NM, hair follicle testing is rapidly eclipsing traditional urine tests in drug detection. The superior accuracy of hair tests offers a more reliable assessment of drug use history. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing can trace drug use over extended periods, ensuring employers receive a comprehensive view of an individual's substance habits, thus offering greater trustworthiness in results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Lemitar, NM provides an extended detection window, identifying drug use for up to 90 days. This prolonged period surpasses typical urine testing timelines, allowing employers to gain deeper insights into a person's substance use history. As a result, hair testing grants a thorough overview of an individual's drug intake, essential for making informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Lemitar, NM are recognized for their tamper-resistant nature, reducing the likelihood of sample adulteration. The likelihood of altering or falsifying results is significantly decreased compared to urine tests. Consequently, these tests deliver reliable and unquestionable results, enhancing confidence for both employers and individuals requiring accurate drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers, accessing hair follicle testing in Lemitar, NM is straightforward and stress-free. Our extensive network of locations ensures quick and hassle-free testing services, bringing ease and convenience to those needing these services. Local residents and employers can benefit from accessible testing solutions without unnecessary travel or delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for arranging, taking, and obtaining hair follicle test results in Lemitar, NM is simple and confidential. Ensuring privacy, the step-by-step process doesn't compromise personal information, providing peace of mind. Clients can effortlessly navigate through testing procedures, assured of confidential handling and ease of service throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Lemitar, NM, our hair follicle testing offers affordable pricing and a fast turnaround, delivering excellent value to businesses of all sizes. Competitive pricing structures, combined with swift results, ensure organizations receive quality testing without financial strain. These factors together contribute to a cost-effective solution that meets diverse needs efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Lemitar, NM stand out for their accuracy and speed in assessing substance use. These tests boast high precision, ensuring that even low-level drug usage is accurately detected. They offer reliable results swiftly, making them a preferred choice for individuals and employers seeking quick and exact outcomes. Their efficiency in detecting substance use makes them a dependable option.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Lemitar, NM benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring workplace compliance and peace of mind. These tests adhere to drug-free workplace policies, help in mitigating legal risks, and enhance workplace safety. By choosing hair testing, organizations can maintain a secure and compliant work environment, supporting their zero-tolerance drug policies effectively.

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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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