Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Twin Lakes, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a significant technique for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair archives a lengthy timeline of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately matching a #2 pencil in size) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg, the ideal amount for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond 10, 150mg of the sample is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is advised for weighing the sample. If head hair is lacking, a similar volume of body hair can be obtained. While talking about head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair denotes all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in the lab handling of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning deals with the initial entry of a sample into a lab’s system. This process confirms that the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any further data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening implies a rapid preliminary check for drug abuse. Though Screening serves as a money-saving approach to rule out drug usage on most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples suggesting positive results in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample appear positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), signifying why hair drug screening is the most complex method to conduct.

Verification of any positive Screening result occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All possible positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug intake for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection timeframe.
• Challenge to manipulate: It is tough to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical data: It can reveal a drug usage pattern over a duration, not solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically pricier than other testing techniques.
• Result variations: Variables like hair color and individual growth differences can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the actual test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Twin Lakes, NM

Hair follicle testing provides superior benefits in accuracy and reliability compared to urine tests. In Twin Lakes, NM, this method ensures a more comprehensive and trustworthy detection, illustrating its efficacy over traditional urine exams. Hair testing is adept at unveiling long-term substance use, a feat urine tests struggle to match.

Extended Detection Window

In Twin Lakes, NM, employers benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing. This method provides insights into an individual's drug use history for up to 90 days, offering a thorough perspective on their substance habits. This prolonged detection period aids in crafting informed decisions based on a broader scope of data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle test, utilized in Twin Lakes, NM, presents a tamper-resistant drug screening approach that is challenging to undermine. Their robustness against sample tampering ensures the integrity and reliability of the results, making them a preferred choice for accurate drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Experience the convenience of nationwide and local testing locations in Twin Lakes, NM. Our expansive network of testing centers ensures that accessing drug testing services is swift and straightforward, catering to needs both nationally and locally.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple and confidential process for conducting hair follicle tests in Twin Lakes, NM, ensures ease and privacy. From ordering to test-taking and obtaining results, the process remains user-friendly and secure, addressing concerns relating to privacy and streamlining the usage experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Twin Lakes, NM, we emphasize affordable pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle drug tests. Balancing cost-effectiveness with swift result delivery, our services affordably support companies of all sizes, ensuring both value and timely peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Twin Lakes, NM, hair follicle drug testing provides fast, accurate, and reliable results. The precision of detecting substance use is unparalleled, offering peace of mind to those requiring test results. Compared to other methods, hair testing ensures a high degree of accuracy, promptly identifying drug use and delivering swift results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Twin Lakes, NM, find compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing which guarantees adherence to workplace drug-free policies. This method minimizes legal liabilities and augments workplace safety, providing a secure and compliant testing framework.

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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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