Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Torreon, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term history of these substances by trapping biomarkers in the fibers of the growing hair. When taken close to the scalp, a hair sample can offer up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to ship.

A 1.5-inch strand of roughly 200 hairs (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests above 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We advocate weighing the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of integrating a sample into a lab's system. This phase ensures that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening serves as a preliminary check for prohibited drugs. While Screening is cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result must be validated for court acceptability. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening need subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample indicate a positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at far lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

Validation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a wash before confirmation if required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is subject to review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, resulting in more reliable results.
• Offers historical insights: Provides a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Cannot detect immediate use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Aspects like hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Outshines Urine Testing in Torreon, NM
Hair follicle tests boast a longer detection window and higher accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. This makes them ideal for employers enforcing strict anti-drug policies. Hair testing captures a more comprehensive drug use history, demonstrating superior reliability and reducing the chances of evasion.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Torreon, NM
Hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage with its extended detection period, up to 90 days. For employers in Torreon, this provides a thorough review of an individual’s substance use over time, revealing patterns that shorter window tests might miss, aiding in better decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Robust Tamper-Resistant Testing in Torreon, NM
Hair follicle tests in Torreon are engineered to minimize sample manipulation. This ensures the integrity and authenticity of results, offering peace of mind with findings that are both definitive and resistant to tampering, unlike other testing methods such as urine samples.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations in Torreon, NM
The nationwide network of testing sites, including Torreon, simplifies access to drug testing services. With quick and convenient local centers, individuals and employers benefit from hassle-free testing, thereby streamlining the entire screening process.

Simple, Confidential Process

A Simple and Confidential Testing Process in Torreon, NM
Our testing procedure is straightforward and privacy-conscious. From ordering to receiving results, clients in Torreon can trust a discreet process, ensuring their confidentiality and making the entire experience seamless and user-friendly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable and Fast Testing in Torreon, NM
Our competitive pricing for hair follicle tests in Torreon provides exceptional value without compromising quality. Coupled with rapid turnaround times, our services cater to businesses of all sizes, underscoring reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Reliable and Swift Hair Testing in Torreon, NM
The precision of hair follicle tests ensures accurate substance detection results in Torreon. This testing method not only boasts a high detection accuracy, but it also provides timely results, making it a preferred choice for both employers and individuals concerned about substance use verification.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensure Compliance and Safety in Torreon, NM
Adopting hair follicle testing helps Torreon employers maintain a drug-free environment, complying with workplace policies. This approach not only reduces legal liabilities but enhances overall workplace safety, fostering a peaceful and productive working atmosphere.

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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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