Hair Follicle Drug Testing - University Park, NM

What it is, How it works

Increasingly, hair testing is recognized as an effective means to detect the use of drugs and alcohol. Through trapping biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands, it offers a comprehensive history of substance usage. A sample taken near the scalp can reveal drug and alcohol use over a period of up to three months. This method is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches encompassing roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the dimension of a #2 pencil) cut close to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and when conducting tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. In the absence of scalp hair, equivalent body hair can be used. When referencing head hair, it pertains specifically to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The drug test result processing in a lab typically involves four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is where a sample undergoes initial processing in the lab's system. This phase ensures the sample was securely sealed and properly shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary, rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although cost-efficient for ruling out drug usage in most cases, a positive screen must be confirmed to hold legal validity. Any samples that test presumptive positive during Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

In cases where Screening indicates a presumptive positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for further Extraction. During this procedure, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, underscoring the complexities of hair drug screening.

Positive Screening results are confirmed using techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples undergo washing as necessary. The lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation along with ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditations.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Unlike urine tests, which have a shorter window, hair drug tests can track drug use for up to 90 days.
• Difficulty to cheat: Its challenging nature to deceive a hair drug test ensures more accurate results.
• Provides historical data: It delivers insights into a drug usage pattern over time, beyond just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Cost: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Variations in results: Differences such as hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the subsurface hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In University Park, NM, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine analysis in several key ways. Hair tests hold the advantage of a longer drug detection window and the ability to uncover ongoing substance use trends, which urine tests simply cannot offer. As such, they provide a more comprehensive view of an individual's drug use history.

Moreover, hair follicle tests enhance detection precision and reliability compared to urine tests. Rather than focusing on recent substance use, they reveal patterns that extend over a greater time span, making them a superior choice for many testing requirements across different sectors.

Extended Detection Window

Hair Test's Extended Detection Window in University Park, NM

The unique capability of hair follicle testing lies in its extended detection window, capturing drug use over a period of up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe offers employers a detailed overview of an applicant or employee's substance use, far exceeding the detection periods of traditional tests.

• This provides a more complete substance-use history.
• Enables better-informed hiring and employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in University Park, NM offers a secure and tamper-resistant solution that significantly reduces sample manipulation risks. Due to its collection method, it guarantees the integrity of the test, therefore delivering trustable results. It's an essential tool for maintaining high accuracy in environments where sample tampering could have been a concern.

The confidence provided by hair tests is invaluable for organizations seeking reliable data to maintain their drug-free policies.

• Ensures sample integrity and accuracy.
• Reduces possibility of adulteration.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In University Park, NM, our nationwide network of testing centers provides unparalleled convenience for those seeking drug testing services. Quick and hassle-free access to our locations ensures that individuals can easily undergo hair follicle tests with minimal disruption to their schedules.

• Conveniently located centers nationwide.
• Streamlined processes for easy access.

Simple, Confidential Process

In University Park, NM, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to sample collection to receiving results, every step is designed to protect privacy while ensuring ease of use. Clients can rest assured knowing that their information is handled with the utmost confidentiality.

The seamless procedure offers peace of mind and convenience, ideal for individuals seeking a straightforward testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

University Park, NM offers affordable options for hair follicle testing, ensuring exceptional value for companies of any size. Competitive pricing coupled with fast turnaround times delivers rapid results without compromising on quality or cost, reinforcing why this method is suitable for cost-conscious organizations. Offering both economic advantage and reliability, hair tests provide excellent value.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The rapidity and precision of hair follicle analyses in University Park, NM set them apart as a top choice for detecting substance use. These tests provide swift and accurate results, delivering unmatched detection reliability. By ensuring high accuracy, hair tests offer users the confidence and peace of mind knowing they have chosen a dependable method for identifying drug and alcohol presence.

Employing state-of-the-art technology, hair follicle testing ensures fast turnaround times, minimizing waiting periods but maximizing result accuracy. This method's efficient nature makes it ideal for scenarios where immediate and precise results are critical.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Organizations in University Park, NM can achieve compliance and foster a safe work environment by utilizing hair follicle tests. These tests support adherence to workplace zero-tolerance drug policies, mitigating potential legal risks and promoting a secure workspace for all. Hair testing provides certainty and reassurance for employers seeking to maintain a drug-free workplace.

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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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