Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Manzano Springs, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a long-term indicator of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When collected near the scalp, it can offer a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale for weighing. If there is no scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning covers the initial inclusion of a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any remaining data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening facilitates a preliminary check for substances of abuse. Screening is an efficient way to dismiss drug use for most samples, but a positive result must be confirmed for court validity. Samples that are likely positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample indicates positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and processed for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation for any screening positive result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Samples that are likely positive are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is checked under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• High resistance to tampering: It is very challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of findings.
• Offers historical insight: It can outline a drug use pattern over a duration, not just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs take approximately 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can change the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine tests in Manzano Springs, NM, hair analysis stands out for its superior detection accuracy. Hair tests can effectively reveal a longer usage history, offering a more reliable assessment of an individual’s substance use. This advanced accuracy makes hair testing a preferred choice over urine tests, especially where comprehensive substance history is critical.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Manzano Springs, NM offers an extended detection window, effectively identifying drug use over a period of up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe allows employers a thorough overview of an individual's substance use history, ensuring informed decisions based on comprehensive data. Such a long detection period provides invaluable insights into employee behavior and substance use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in Manzano Springs, NM is renowned for its tamper-resistant features. By significantly minimizing the risk of sample adulteration, hair tests deliver reliable and unquestionable results. This method of drug testing ensures the integrity of the sample and the accuracy of the results, thereby offering a considerable advantage over other testing methods susceptible to tampering.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Manzano Springs, NM, finding a convenient testing location is made easy through our nationwide network of centers. This ensures that individuals and employers have hassle-free access to our services, regardless of their location. The widespread availability of our centers guarantees that testing is always quick, easy, and accessible, minimizing inconvenience and ensuring prompt service.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ordering and receiving hair follicle test results in Manzano Springs, NM is a straightforward and confidential process. Our approach ensures privacy and ease of use, addressing any privacy concerns individuals might have. By keeping the procedures simple and discreet, we facilitate a smooth testing experience from start to finish, ensuring user comfort and confidentiality throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Manzano Springs, NM, our hair follicle testing services are competitively priced while offering fast turnaround times. This combination of affordability and efficiency provides exceptional value for companies of all sizes. Employers can enjoy the benefits of high-quality, prompt testing services without compromising on cost-effectiveness, ensuring peace of mind and budget-friendly solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Manzano Springs, NM, hair follicle drug tests are recognized for their precision and speed in substance detection. This testing method provides results that are both fast and highly accurate, making it a reliable choice for detecting substance use. The efficiency of hair testing ensures that results are obtained quickly, providing critical information with minimal delay.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Manzano Springs, NM, using hair follicle testing is a step towards ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method helps reduce legal risks and enhances overall workplace safety. With its reliability and comprehensive detection capabilities, hair testing provides employers with peace of mind, knowing that their workplace remains secure and free from substance abuse.

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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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