Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Tesuque, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as a significant method for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair provides an extensive-term record of alcohol and drug exposure by storing biomarkers within the structure of the growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair offers up to about a 90-day detection window for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample of about 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional procedures, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not an option, a similar amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other forms of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in processing a drug testing result in a lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample into a lab's framework. This process ensures the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data input lacking from an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening is a preliminary swift assessment for substance abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient means to negate drug consumption for most samples, a positive result requires validation to hold up in legal proceedings. Any presumptively positive specimens in Screening necessitate secondary verification.

If Screening detects a presumptive positive result, more hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are separated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than alternate techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection time frame.
• Complexity to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test proves highly challenging, ensuring the outcomes are more precise.
• Supplies past usage data: It reveals a history of drug consumption over an extended duration, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to have a higher cost compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth may influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Tesuque, NM, hair follicle testing outperforms urine testing in several ways. It excels in detection accuracy and offers a longer detection window, making it the go-to choice for many organizations. The reliability of hair tests helps to uncover substance usage that urinalysis might miss, ensuring a drug-free environment.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Tesuque, NM, is a standout feature. Unlike other tests, hair follicle testing can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior. This long window gives employers insight into long-term patterns of behavior, enabling better hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One key advantage of hair follicle tests in Tesuque, NM, is their tamper-resistant nature. This type of testing significantly minimizes the chances of sample tampering or adulteration. With such security, the results are reliable and trustworthy, giving peace of mind to all involved.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of our nationwide and local testing locations in Tesuque, NM, makes accessing hair follicle tests easy and hassle-free. With numerous testing centers, scheduling and attending a test is straightforward, saving time and effort for all parties involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Tesuque, NM, is simple and confidential. From order to result, every step is designed to be easy and discreet, ensuring user privacy is always protected. This approach addresses any concerns regarding privacy and process simplicity effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Tesuque, NM, our hair follicle testing offers affordable pricing and fast turnaround. Our competitive pricing ensures that companies of any size receive great value, while quick result times offer timely insights, enhancing decision-making processes efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Tesuque, NM, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. The precision of these tests ensures detection of various substances with a high degree of accuracy. This method provides results more quickly than traditional tests, allowing businesses and individuals to make informed decisions promptly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Tesuque, NM, ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers. It helps maintain workplace safety and complies with drug-free policies, reducing legal liabilities. This proactive approach strengthens overall workplace 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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