Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Newcomb, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair screening is recognized as an effective method for identifying substance use. It offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands. When procured near the scalp, hair can present a detection timeframe of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, tampering is somewhat challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will result in 100mg of hair, an optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG, including add-ons or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. In instances where scalp hair is lacking, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When we mention head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other hair types (such as facial, armpit, etc.).

Process Summary

The key steps involved in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This process verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns a random LAN (Lab Accessioning Number), and completes any missed data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial brief assessment for substance abuse. Though cost-effective in ruling out drug use for most samples, any positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Presumptively positive screenings mandate a secondary confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are retrieved from hair in far lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), accounting for why hair drug screening is the most intricate methodology to conduct.

Confirming any positive screening result is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptive positive are cleansed before confirmation when needed. The total lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug screenings:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can discern drug use for up to 90 days in comparison to urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• Cheating prevention: It is considerably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, boosting result precision.
• Historical insight: It can portray a pattern of substance use over time, not merely recent instances.

Challenges:

• Incapable of recent detection: Detection in hair requires about 5-7 days post-drug use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually entail higher costs than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Variability in outcomes: Elements like hair color and individual growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentration within hair.

Note: Although commonly named as "hair follicle tests", the examination is on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Newcomb, NM? It's all about enhanced detection accuracy. Hair tests offer superior reliability over traditional urine tests.

The benefits of hair testing include their extended detection window and their nearly impossible-to-cheat nature, making them a favored choice among employers and legal entities.

Hair tests demonstrate superior reliability compared to urine tests, capturing substance use with greater precision.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window, hair follicle testing in Newcomb, NM, provides insights into drug use over a 90-day period, surpassing other methods.

This broad timeframe allows employers to review an individual’s longer-term substance use history, aiding in making informed decisions.

The capability to detect past drug use extensively grants a comprehensive view of the applicant or employee's substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Newcomb, NM, minimizes the risk of tampering, delivering reliable and credible results due to its resistant nature.

This method significantly reduces incidents of sample adulteration, ensuring the integrity of the testing process.

Employers and testing agencies trust hair tests for their tamper-proof features, providing unquestionable accuracy.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Testing convenience in Newcomb, NM, is ensured through our numerous nationwide centers, facilitating easy and rapid testing access.

Local testing locations bring testing services closer, allowing for a hassle-free experience.

The accessibility of testing centers, whether local or national, ensures quick and straightforward processes for all involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Newcomb, NM, is both simple and confidential, from ordering to receiving hair test results, easing privacy concerns.

Taking a test is straightforward, providing an uncomplicated experience for users.

Privacy is paramount, and the process is designed to be smooth and confidential for worry-free testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hair follicle testing in Newcomb, NM, features competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, satisfying companies of all sizes.

Our pricing structures give excellent value, while the fast results enhance the overall service experience.

Affordability and speed are key, offering both peace of mind and cost-efficiency in drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests deliver swift, precise, and reliable outcomes in Newcomb, NM. With their high accuracy, these tests efficiently detect substance use, offering peace of mind.

The speed of hair testing ensures rapid results, making it a preferred choice for those requiring immediate information on substance use.

Hair tests' accuracy outperforms other methods, consistently providing dependable data.
Efficient processing contributes to their growing popularity.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers gain peace of mind in Newcomb, NM, by using hair follicle testing, which aligns with drug-free workplace policies and compliance needs.

Such testing reduces legal risks and promotes a safe working environment, fulfilling necessary safety compliance standards.

Hair testing enhances employee safety and workforce reliability, making it a practical choice for organizations aiming for peace of mind.

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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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