Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Regina, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has increasingly been recognized as an effective instrument in identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug history by retaining biomarkers within the strands' fibers as they grow. When cut near the scalp, up to about a 3-month detection period for drugs and alcohol is achievable. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in size) nearest to the scalp, will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG tests, add-ons, and/or panels over 10, a quantity of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for weighing the hair sample. If scalp hair is non-existent, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. The term head hair pertains specifically to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types, such as facial and axillary.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing for a drug test result includes four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of processing a sample into a lab's system. This step involves ensuring the sample is intact and sent correctly, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any needed data entry missing from electronic custody systems.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for drug presence. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result requires further verification to be admitted in legal settings. Samples flagged as presumptively positive during Screening mandate a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample return presumptively positive in Screening, the initial hair sample is further processed for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are isolated from the hair at a lower concentration than in alternative methods such as urine or oral fluid, accounting for hair drug testing's complexity.

Confirmation of any preliminary positive findings is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing prior to confirmation as needed. The complete procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected in alignment with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can uncover drug intake for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Hard to deceive: Hair drug tests present a formidable challenge to tamper with, which enhances result reliability.
• Offers past usage data: It shows drug use patterns over an extended timeframe, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Non-detection of immediate use: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to be noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative methods of drug testing.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" can be misleading as the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Regina, NM, hair follicle testing is a superior choice over traditional urine tests. Hair tests offer unmatched detection accuracy and reliability, utilizing samples typically needed from the head or body.
Advantages include a longer detection window and minimal risk of tampering, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of an individual's substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Regina, NM offers an extended detection window, capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days back. This thorough assessment provides employers with a detailed view of a candidate or employee's substance use history.
The extended timeframe ensures a comprehensive account of an individual's history, unlike shorter-duration tests, enabling well-informed assessments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Regina, NM, hair follicle tests provide a tamper-resistant format, significantly reducing risks of sample adulteration. The method ensures reliable and unquestionable results, free from manipulation.
With strict collection protocols, hair testing maintains the integrity of samples against potential interference.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Regina, NM benefits from the convenience of our nationwide testing centers, ensuring quick, easy access to crucial drug testing services. Local availability guarantees a hassle-free experience.
Our presence in numerous locations facilitates accessing testing services without undue delay, offering convenience for all entities involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Regina, NM is simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively. From ordering to result receipt, the system ensures user-friendly procedures.
Maintaining confidentiality throughout the process ensures participants' privacy is respected and upheld, along with ensuring accuracy and ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Regina, NM reinforce our competitive offering. Businesses benefit from excellent value, regardless of size, with prompt delivery.
The budget-friendly approach, combined with efficient operations, provides peace of mind, enabling companies to make cost-effective drug testing decisions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests in Regina, NM make them a preferred choice for reliable results. With their high precision, these tests effectively detect substance use, ensuring fast and accurate reporting.
This method allows employers and professionals to make informed decisions based on reliable data, offering peace of mind.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Regina, NM offers compliance and peace of mind to employers by aligning with workplace drug-free policies. By minimizing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety, these tests support a secure environment.
The reliable results underpin a company's zero-tolerance stance, reducing concerns over employee substance use.

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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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