Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Wingate, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by trapping biomarkers in the strands as the hair grows. When hair is gathered near the scalp, it can provide a detection timeframe of up to around 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to alter, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch segment composed of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields about 100mg of hair, which is optimum for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. It is advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair might be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Laboratory processing of drug test results involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a sample into the lab's system. This process includes ensuring the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary quick test for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to potentially rule out drug use in most samples, a positive test requires confirmation to be valid in court. Samples that test positive in Screening need a secondary confirmation step.

If a Screening yields a presumptive positive, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, explaining why hair drug screening is the most challenging technique to execute.

For positive Screening outcomes, confirmation is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation, as needed. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire process is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: Hair tests can provide a pattern of drug usage over time, beyond recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Lacks recent use detection: Drugs take about 5-7 days to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Characteristics like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test actually analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why choose hair testing over urine testing in Wingate, NM? The reasons are manifold. Hair follicle tests are superior in accuracy and have a longer detection period, providing a more comprehensive view of an individual's substance use compared to the short-term focus of urine tests.

Traditional urine tests are limited in their detection window, which can be a matter of days, while hair testing offers up to 90 days of insight. This extended ability to detect past drug use provides invaluable data for decision-making processes in various sectors.

Extended Detection Window

In Wingate, NM, hair follicle tests grant an extended detection window, tracing drug use back up to 90 days. This timespan offers a detailed overview of an individual's history, surpassing ordinary testing methods.

For employers, the comprehensive substance use outlook acquired through hair follicle testing translates into better hiring decisions. Such transparency ensures a drug-free workplace and enhances operational safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Wingate, NM is a tamper-resistant method, extensively decreasing chances of sample adulteration. Compared to urine tests, where tampering is more plausible, hair testing provides results that are reliable and authentic.

Unquestionable results are a result of the secure process involved in hair testing, ensuring each test conducted is both fair and accurate. This reliability supports better outcomes for various testing needs.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Finding testing sites in Wingate, NM is convenient due to our extensive network of locations. Both nationwide and local centers ensure a smooth testing process, allowing access to services without hassle.

• Quick appointments and results are accessible, which simplifies the testing process for all involved.
• A broad array of centers ensures that our services are always within reach, wherever you may be.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Wingate, NM is characterized by its simplicity and confidentiality. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is streamlined, assuring all users of privacy.

Ensuring a simple user experience addresses privacy concerns effectively, as individuals can undertake the testing process with confidence.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Wingate, NM, our testing services offer affordable pricing alongside fast turnaround. This combination yields peace of mind for companies of all sizes, maintaining cost-effectiveness without sacrificing service quality.

Timely reporting and competitive pricing structures empower informed decision-making processes, highlighting the value our services bring to employers.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Wingate, NM is both fast and accurate. This testing method rapidly determines substance use history, providing results with high precision. The capacity to swiftly process and report data makes it in demand among employers and legal authorities.

The precision of hair testing guarantees reliable detection of various substances, providing more certainty than other testing methods. In Wingate, this confidence in accuracy assists in informed decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

With hair follicle testing in Wingate, NM, compliance and peace of mind for employers are guaranteed. This method aids companies in maintaining drug-free policies effectively, significantly minimizing legal challenges.

Employers benefit from the assurance that hair testing offers, thereby increasing workplace safety. Implementing hair follicle tests means aligning with top standards in drug testing and reducing risk exposures.

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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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