Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Zuni Pueblo, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains a record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair offers roughly a 3-month detection window for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) gathered nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, and/or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is lacking, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Summary

The process of handling a drug test result in the lab comprises four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample within a lab’s framework. This process checks that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary quick evaluation for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screening must be validated for court acceptability. Any samples initially positive in Screening require secondary affirmation.

If a sample is initially positive at Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are withdrawn from the hair at lower concentrations than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), reflecting why hair drug testing is the most sophisticated methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All initially positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as required. The full laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, increasing result reliability.
• Historical usage data: It reveals a timeline of drug use over time, not just recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs take approximately 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle underneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Zuni Pueblo, NM, hair follicle testing has clear advantages over urine tests. This method ensures higher accuracy and reliability, providing unmatched precision in detection compared to conventional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

In Zuni Pueblo, NM, hair follicle testing allows for an extended detection period, tracing substance use up to 90 days. This provides employers with a holistic view of an individual’s drug history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Zuni Pueblo, NM, is a robust method against tampering, ensuring the integrity of results. This test minimizes the risk of manipulation, offering trustworthy findings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessing hair follicle testing is convenient with our widespread centers, including Zuni Pueblo, NM. Our locations nationwide ensure swift, simple, and stress-free service availability.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Zuni Pueblo, NM is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, privacy and user-friendliness are prioritized, simplifying the overall experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Zuni Pueblo, NM, our services offer competitive pricing and fast processing times. This guarantees excellent value and assurance for businesses of every scale.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and reliability of hair follicle drug tests in Zuni Pueblo, NM, stand out for swift and accurate results. These tests are designed to detect substances with high accuracy, ensuring dependable findings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Zuni Pueblo, NM benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free policies. This not only minimizes legal risks but also boosts workplace safety.

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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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