Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pecos, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a long-term profile of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within its growing fibers. When procured near the scalp, hair can offer up to around a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively tough to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, the preferred amount for screening and confirmation purposes. For tests involving EtG, additional panels, or more than 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is advisable. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. When discussing head hair, it refers specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the initial processing of a sample into the lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any remaining data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary swift assessment for drug abuse. Although a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for court admissibility. Samples that result in a presumptive positive during Screening necessitate further confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are separated from hair at a notably lower concentration than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging to execute.

Positive screening results are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if required. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to compromise: Hair drug tests are very hard to manipulate, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug consumption over time, beyond just recent use.

Disadvantages:

• Inability to spot recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variation: Elements like hair color and individual disparities in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Pecos, NM, the advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests are clear. Hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and reliability, going beyond traditional methods in assessing drug use.

The extended detection period and tough-to-tamper nature of hair tests make them a preferred choice for rigorous screening, outshining urine tests in many aspects and providing peace of mind to employers.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Pecos, NM stands out with its long detection period, covering up to 90 days of drug use. This extended window provides an in-depth view of an individual’s substance history.

Employers can make informed decisions based on the extensive data that hair tests provide, allowing them a full understanding of an applicant or employee's past substance use profile, unlike shorter detection methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing is a major benefit for those in Pecos, NM. This method drastically reduces the risk of sample tampering, ensuring reliability in results.

With a strict and observed collection process, hair tests limit the potential for adulteration, providing results that are both reliable and unquestionable, instilling trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of having nationwide testing centers, including those in Pecos, NM, ensures quick and hassle-free access to drug testing services.

Our widespread and strategically located testing centers simplify the process for individuals and employers, making drug testing not only convenient but also efficient.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Pecos, NM, the process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results is straightforward and confidential.

The emphasis on privacy and ease of use reassures all parties involved, ensuring that results are securely handled and communicated without any complications.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We offer competitive pricing and fast turnaround times in Pecos, NM, ensuring excellent value for companies of all sizes.

Our affordable rates combined with rapid results provide peace of mind, making hair follicle testing a cost-effective choice without compromising on quality or efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

When it comes to fast, accurate, and reliable results, hair follicle testing is unmatched in Pecos, NM. The precision and speed in detecting substance use through hair analysis are unparalleled, ensuring high accuracy.

Hair tests offer a meticulous analysis that significantly reduces the margin for error compared to other methods, providing employers confidence in the results. This precision translates to informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Pecos, NM, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, thus reducing legal risks and promoting a safe environment.

Utilizing this testing method supports adherence to regulations, offering peace of mind by maintaining the integrity of workplace policies, which is crucial in fostering a secure work setting.

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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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