Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Loco Hills, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective tool in detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a long-term timeline of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the maturing hair strand. When collected from the scalp, hair can offer up to roughly a 3-month window for identifying alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It’s suggested to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary steps in lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be permissible in legal proceedings. Any samples that show presumptive positive results in Screening need further confirmation.

Should a sample appear presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is drawn from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most complex method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to deceive: It is exceedingly tough to falsify a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug consumption over time, not solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot spot recent use: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Loco Hills, NM, outshines traditional urine testing through its superior detection and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests have a longer detection window, providing a comprehensive history of substance use. This ensures employers can rely on detailed and actionable insight into an individual's drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

In Loco Hills, NM, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window, identifying drug use over a period as long as 90 days. This broad timeframe grants employers a detailed view of an employee's or applicant's substance history, allowing for informed decision-making based on comprehensive data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method widely used in Loco Hills, NM. This testing significantly reduces the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring the results are both reliable and incontestable. Employers prefer this method for its integrity and resistance to manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our presence across numerous nationwide centers ensures effortless and timely access to hair follicle testing in Loco Hills, NM. The convenience of having a nearby facility simplifies the testing process, fostering a straightforward and streamlined experience for individuals and organizations alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a simple and confidential process for hair follicle testing in Loco Hills, NM. Our services guarantee privacy and ease of use from ordering to receiving results, addressing any privacy concerns efficiently. The process is designed for seamless navigation, ensuring client comfort throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and quick turnaround times define our hair follicle testing services in Loco Hills, NM. Our competitive pricing models ensure excellent value without compromising on speed or quality, providing companies of all sizes with prompt and reliable drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Loco Hills, NM, hair follicle drug tests exemplify precision and rapidity, setting a benchmark in drug detection. These tests swiftly analyze hair samples, offering high accuracy in identifying substance use. The swift turnaround and dependability of results make them a preferred choice for various organizations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Incorporating hair follicle testing in Loco Hills, NM, ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This testing reduces legal risks and promotes a safer work environment, providing employers with the peace of mind that comes from adhering to stringent regulatory standards and safeguarding staff welfare.

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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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