Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Nenahnezad, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When collected near the scalp, hair provides up to a three-month detection period for alcohol and substance detection. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch piece consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (akin to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additions, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair sample is advised. We advise measuring the hair specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent portion of body hair can be collected. When referencing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result mainly involves four stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system, ensuring the sample is properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional information not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is an initial phase that swiftly checks for drug presence. While it is a cost-effective way to dismiss drug usage in most samples, any positive screen result requires confirmation for it to hold up in court. Samples indicating a possible positive in the Screening require a secondary confirmation.

In cases of a presumptive positive result during the Screening stage, more hair is taken from the first specimen to prepare for Extraction. At this point, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening poses the most challenge to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is accomplished using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The total lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation adhering to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to falsify: It's quite challenging to falsify a hair drug test, allowing for more reliable results.
• Gives extended data: It can outline a pattern of drug usage over time, rather than just recent exposure.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become recognizable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While often referred to as “hair follicle tests”, the examination focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle tests to urine tests in Nenahnezad, NM, the former excels due to its superior detection capabilities. Hair tests provide a broader window for identifying drug usage, while urine tests often miss recent or low-level consumption patterns.

Hair testing outweighs urine tests because of its accuracy and tendency to uphold correctness over a considerable period. Employers benefit from this by getting a thorough understanding of potential hires or current employees' histories.

Extended Detection Window

In Nenahnezad, NM, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window that spans up to 90 days, substantially longer than other drug test types. This vast timeframe grants employers a more comprehensive view of an individual’s substance use history.

By utilizing hair tests, companies obtain a better assessment of an employee or candidate’s long-term behavior, ensuring informed recruitment and employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Nenahnezad, NM, are lauded for their tamper-resistant nature, significantly minimizing the chance of sample manipulation. This reliability ensures results are dependable and cannot be easily compromised.

The robustness of hair follicle testing lies in its direct collection method, which curtails the opportunities for adulteration, making it a sound choice for organizations focused on accurate data integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing prides itself on offering convenient testing facilities nationwide, including in Nenahnezad, NM. Our extensive network of sites ensures clients receive quick and effortless service wherever they are.

Local locations available in Nenahnezad facilitate easy access to necessary drug testing services, marking our commitment to comprehensive service provision across diverse regions.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for engaging hair follicle testing in Nenahnezad, NM, is simple and confidential, designed to prioritize user privacy while ensuring straightforward user interaction. Our approach alleviates concerns regarding data security when ordering, performing, or receiving test outcomes.

Users in Nenahnezad appreciate the seamless transition from sample collection to results delivery, emphasizing ease of use and confidentiality throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Nenahnezad, NM, Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing structures coupled with a fast turnaround for hair follicle drug tests, ensuring clients receive quality service without breaking the bank.

Our pricing is competitive, catering to businesses of varied sizes, while our prompt processing times reinforce trust and reliability, facilitating informed decision-making swiftly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Nenahnezad, NM, deliver fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes crucial for addressing substance use concerns. These tests are notably precise, offering a high level of accuracy when tracing substances, making them superior to traditional methods.

The speed at which results from hair follicle tests are processed in Nenahnezad ensures a swift response in managing workplace or individual drug testing needs. This efficiency supports employers in making timely decisions based on verified data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing enables Nenahnezad, NM, employers to comply with workplace drug-free policies, providing both compliance assurance and peace of mind. This form of testing aids in mitigating legal risks, safeguarding both company reputation and employee safety.

With stringent drug-testing strategies, workplaces can ensure safer environments, reflecting enhanced dedication to employee well-being and regulatory adherence.

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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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