Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Placitas, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now considered a highly effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a historical record of alcohol and drug use as it traps biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When sourced close to the scalp, hair can reveal substance use history for up to around three months. Hair collection is straightforward, less prone to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches in length consisting of approximately 200 strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for both screening and verification. A specimen weight of 150mg is suggested for EtG, add-on tests, and/or panels exceeding 10. Utilizing a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample is advisable. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable volume of body hair can be gathered. References to head hair solely imply scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other varieties (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test outcome includes four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample within a lab's system. This step verifies the proper sealing and transport of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addresses any additional data entry omitted from an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening serves as an initial expedited assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to hold validity in judicial settings. Any samples that suggest positive results in Screening necessitate further verification.

Should a sample indicate a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is separated from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, the extraction of drugs from hair occurs at far lower concentrations than other techniques (for instance, urine or oral fluid), underscoring the challenge of hair drug testing.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating presumptive positives undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory process ranging from Accessioning through to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and the standards of ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug use for a duration of up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer shorter detection spans.
• Difficulty in manipulation: Cheating a hair drug test proves challenging, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Historical insights: The test can chart a pattern of drug consumption over an extended timeframe, encompassing more than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: The detection of drugs in hair typically takes between 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually incur higher costs compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair samples.

Note: Although frequently labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Placitas, NM
The benefits of hair testing over traditional urine tests are evident through superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests surpass urine tests by offering a wider detection window and providing a more comprehensive evaluation of an individual's substance history. This method substantially reduces the likelihood of result manipulation, thus reinforcing its credibility.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Placitas, NM
Hair follicle testing is a superior choice due to its ability to detect drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days. This feature offers employers a comprehensive snapshot of an employee’s or applicant’s substance use history, making it a valuable tool in maintaining workplace safety and compliance with drug-free policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Placitas, NM
Hair follicle tests significantly mitigate the risk of sample tampering, rendering the results reliable and trustworthy. The observed collection process fortifies the integrity of the test, ensuring that attempts to adulterate samples are effectively nullified. This robustness delivers confidence in the testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Placitas, NM
Our nationwide network of testing centers, including those in Placitas, NM, ensures that access to our testing services is both quick and straightforward. This widespread availability allows for hassle-free scheduling and execution of hair follicle tests, facilitating an untroubled and smooth experience for all users.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Placitas, NM
With our straightforward and confidential process for ordering, undertaking, and receiving results, we address all privacy and usability concerns. The ease of use ensures that individuals can undergo testing with minimal disruption and full privacy, thereby making the entire experience as seamless as possible.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Placitas, NM
Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times represent excellent value, especially for businesses of varying sizes. By optimizing affordability with rapid result delivery, we enable companies to maintain their budgetary constraints while ensuring comprehensive drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Placitas, NM
Hair follicle drug testing offers precision and speed unparalleled by other methods. The accuracy in detecting substance use is remarkably high, ensuring that results are dependable and arrive swiftly. These tests not only promise reliability but also guarantee quick turnaround times, accommodating the needs of both employers and individuals seeking precise analysis.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Placitas, NM
Utilizing hair follicle testing helps employers fulfill compliance requirements with drug-free workplace policies, thereby reducing legal exposures while enhancing safety. Organizations can benefit from the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are protecting their employees and safeguarding their operational integrity.

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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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