Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Valdez, NM

What it is, How it works

The utilization of hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged retrospection of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibrous strands as they grow. When hair is gathered near the scalp, it can reveal drug and alcohol use over roughly a 3-month period. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches containing around 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg, perfect for both screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, supplemental tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, it's advisable to use 150mg of the sample. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar quantity of body hair is acceptable. The term head hair specifically denotes scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (like facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The key stages in laboratory handling of a drug testing sample are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase of processing a sample into a lab's system. This phase includes checking that the sample was appropriately sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a rapid, preliminary screening for abused substances. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient means to eliminate drug usage from most specimens, any screen yielding positive results needs validation to be valid in legal proceedings. Samples with a presumptive positive in Screening are subject to additional confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, further hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction stage. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at substantially lower concentrations than other approaches (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing notably complex.

Confirming any positive Screening results is accomplished using techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing presumptive positive undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes evaluation under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long-term detection: Hair analysis can reveal drug use spanning up to 90 days, unlike urine testing with a shorter detection timeframe.
• Resistant to deception: Hair drug analysis is notably hard to cheat, ensuring accurate results.
• Traces consumption history: It can map out drug consumption patterns over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to surface within hair.
• Expensive: Hair drug examinations typically incur higher costs than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair shaft itself, not the follicle under the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing drug test options in Valdez, NM, hair follicle testing triumphs over urine tests.

The unmatched detection accuracy of hair testing ensures reliability.

Unlike the limited detection of urine tests, the hair method identifies long-term substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Offering a vast detection time frame—up to 90 days—hair follicle testing in Valdez, NM, provides a broad perspective on substance use.

Employers in Valdez, NM, benefit from understanding the full scope of an employee's usage history.

The elongated detection window aids in making informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Valdez, NM, assure tamper-proof results, minimizing the risk of sample adulteration.

The secure process in Valdez makes it nearly impossible to fake results.

By prioritizing authenticity, these tests offer credible and dependable outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide testing centers, including those in Valdez, NM, offer quick and stress-free access.

Our widespread locations ensure easy access to testing services.

Testing availability in Valdez complements our nationwide reach.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our hassle-free process in Valdez, NM maintains confidentiality and simplicity from ordering to receiving results.

Ensuring user privacy, the process is designed for convenience.

The straightforward steps make hair follicle testing stress-free and confidential.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing in Valdez, NM aligns with our swift service, offering great value across company sizes.

Affordable rates paired with fast turnaround times meet business needs.

Value and efficiency are core to our service in Valdez.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Valdez, NM, the hair follicle drug test offers unparalleled precision and swiftness in revealing substance use.

The rapid turnaround and high accuracy in detection make hair follicle drug tests a trusted choice in Valdez, NM.

It's the blend of fast results and reliable detection that sets hair follicle testing apart.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Valdez, NM, promotes a drug-free workplace, ensuring compliance and reducing legal concerns.

This method not only enforces policy adherence but enhances safety.

Choosing hair follicle tests provides peace of mind in maintaining a safe working environment.

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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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