Hair Follicle Drug Testing - San Jose, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can archive an extended history of alcohol and drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the emerging hair strand. When gathered from the scalp, hair may reveal a detection span of up to around 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is scarce, a similar volume of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory system. This involves confirming proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any extra data entry not available via an electronic chain of custody method.

Screening is a preliminary swift check for substances of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient to exclude drug usage in most cases, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. All samples that test presumptively positive in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

If a sample appears presumptively positive during Screening, extra hair is extracted from the original specimen and set up for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than by other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed prior to confirmation when necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can ascertain drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection duration.
• Difficult to tamper: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, thus ensuring more precise results.
• Tracks historical data: It can display a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become noticeable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the examination targets the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing Hair and Urine Testing in San Jose, NM, hair follicle tests offer enhanced detection reliability and accuracy. While traditional urine exams serve a purpose, hair testing exceeds in tracing substances over longer periods, offering a substantial detection window and reducing false negatives. Its nearly cheat-proof nature ensures a trustworthy outcome, making it a preferred choice for discerning organizations.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window is a critical advantage of hair follicle testing available in San Jose, NM. This method reveals drug usage up to 90 days prior, offering employers a comprehensive and insightful overview of an individual's substance activity. Such an extended period gives a clearer and more detailed picture of one's history compared to shorter-term methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Method in San Jose, NM is achieved through hair follicle testing, which substantially limits the chance of specimen falsification. This examination style is upheld for its robustness, providing conclusive and irrefutable data. This reliability makes hair testing invaluable in scenarios where authenticity is paramount, greatly diminishing the success rate for manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations make access in San Jose, NM seamless through our extensive network. With testing centers spread nationwide, utilizing our services is straightforward and time-efficient. From local to wide-reaching locales, our strategic positioning ensures accessibility to the accurate testing services you require without the hassle or significant travel commitments.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplicity and Confidentiality in San Jose, NM are integral to our testing process. From ordering to results delivery, each step ensures user privacy and ease. The streamlined and discreet approach alleviates concerns of confidentiality, making testing an unintrusive and straightforward experience, offering peace of mind to all parties involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Quick Turnaround characterize our services in San Jose, NM, providing compelling value for businesses regardless of size. With competitive pricing structures paired with swift result delivery, the efficiency and affordability of our hair follicle tests make them an attractive option, ensuring financial prudence and expedited processes for organizations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and Speed in San Jose, NM are the hallmarks of hair follicle drug testing. These tests boast high accuracy levels in uncovering substance use, ensuring that the results are both fast and dependable. Through innovative technology, hair tests deliver factual results more quickly than many anticipate, all the while maintaining rigorous accuracy standards, making them an exceptional tool in drug detection protocols.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind are assured for San Jose, NM employers via hair follicle testing. By employing this method, organizations uphold drug-free policies, thereby minimizing potential legal issues and elevating workplace safety standards. It fosters an environment of trust and diligence, where safety and compliance go hand in hand, reducing risks and promoting well-being.

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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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