Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Valencia, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand’s fibers. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a corresponding amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we specify scalp hair only. Body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the preliminary handling of a sample into the lab’s system. This step verifies the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial swift assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result must be validated to be court-admissible. Samples suspected to be positive in Screening need further confirmation.

If a sample is suspected as positive in Screening, more hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples suspected as positive are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to falsify: Altering a hair drug test is extremely tough, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a drug use pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Constraints:

• Unable to detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally costlier than other drug detection methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can affect drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing in Valencia, NM Outperforms Urine Testing

In Valencia, NM, hair follicle testing is making strides over urine testing. The precision of hair testing leads to superior accuracy, uncovering usages that urine tests might miss. These advancements give a dependable picture of substance use, equipping organizations with better tools for maintaining a drug-free environment.

Compared to urine tests, hair follicle methods excel in detecting varied substances, consistently and reliably. Their strength lies in accurately uncovering past usages, thus making them indispensable for ensuring the integrity and safety of the workplace.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Timeframe for Detection in Valencia, NM

In Valencia, NM, hair follicle testing provides an expansive detection period, extending up to 90 days. This lengthy timeframe gives employers a comprehensive perspective on an individual's substance use history. Such breadth in detection offers an indispensable resource for creating safe, drug-free workplaces.

The value of this extended window is in its ability to catch long-term substance activity, unlike shorter-range urine narratives. This benefit allows companies to make informed personnel decisions, focusing on long-term patterns of employee behavior.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure, Tamper-Proof Methods in Valencia, NM

In Valencia, NM, the integrity of hair testing shines by significantly reducing the risk of sample tampering. These tests furnish results that are both reliable and undisputed, promoting assurance in their authenticity and precision. Every test mirrors an unblemished reflection of an individual's substance consumption.

The robustness of hair tests lies in their strong resistance to alteration, offering security and trust in the outcomes. Employers can confidently rely on these methods to uphold workplace safety and compliance with regulations.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Accessibility in Valencia, NM

In Valencia, NM, the advantage of Accredited Drug Testing is its extensive network of testing centers. This nationwide reach, paired with local accessibility, ensures that testing services are just around the corner, simplifying the process for clients.

Our strategic locations provide ease, offering swift and straightforward access for individuals and businesses needing reliable drug testing. This convenience means minimal disruption to employees and focused entry into testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ease and Privacy in Valencia, NM

Valencia, NM clients enjoy a seamless, confidential hair testing process. From ordering to sample collection and result reporting, every step assures privacy and simplicity. This user-friendly approach alleviates concerns and encourages efficient compliance with drug screening requirements.

By maintaining clients' confidentiality throughout testing, Accredited Drug Testing fosters trust, enabling individuals and companies to manage substance use evaluations discreetly and effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Value and Quick Results in Valencia, NM

In Valencia, NM, our hair testing services provide competitive pricing combined with fast result delivery. This coupling reinforces our commitment to offering economic advantage alongside the swift processing necessary in today's dynamic work environments.

Prompt turnarounds ensure clients receive results when they need them, allowing businesses to minimize downtime and maintain productivity, reflecting exceptional value across organizations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Reliable Outcome in Valencia, NM

Hair follicle tests in Valencia, NM offer swift, precise substance detection, ensuring prompt, trustworthy outcomes. With unparalleled accuracy, they represent a critical tool for evaluating and monitoring substance use effectively. This efficiency aids businesses in maintaining safety and compliance while making crucial decisions.

Acquiring results quickly enables employers to act decisively, safeguarding work environments and upholding drug-free policies. The rapid processing of these tests ensures timely information and peace of mind.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employer Compliance and Assurance in Valencia, NM

In Valencia, NM, hair follicle testing enhances employer compliance with strict drug-free workplace policies by reducing legal exposures. Implementing these tests allows companies to stay ahead and safeguard their operations. The peace of mind that comes from maintaining policy adherence is invaluable to employers.

Preserving a safe corporate environment is vital, and hair testing supports this by offering a proactive approach to substance detection. It diminishes risks and underscores employer commitment to adhering to conscientious workplace standards.

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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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