Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Aetna Estates, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a repository of long-term drug and alcohol use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When cut close to the scalp, it can offer detection capabilities for alcohol and drugs over an approximate 3-month span. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to manipulate, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch piece comprising around 200 strands of hair (comparable to a #2 pencil thickness) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analysis, and/or testing beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the hair is advisable. It's best to weigh the hair using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar quantity of body hair is acceptable. By "head hair," we mean only scalp hair, while "body hair" covers all other varieties (facial, arm, etc.).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test sample in the lab follows four major stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the process of entering a specimen into a lab's workflow. This involves ensuring the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any pending data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an instant preliminary verification of drug presence. As a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug consumption in most cases, any positive outcome needs confirmation for legal substantiation. Samples that appear positive in Screening require a follow-up confirmation step.

If a sample indicates a potential positive in Screening, additional hair from the initial collection is prepared for Extraction. This phase involves retrieving drugs from hair at concentrations markedly lower than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a highly challenging procedure.

Verification of any positive findings from screening occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are cleansed before confirmation as required. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and accreditation by ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Challenge to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, enhancing the reliability of results.
• Chronological usage info: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, beyond just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: Drugs need about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is generally pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly called "hair follicle tests," the analysis pertains to the hair strand itself and not the scalp-buried follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Aetna Estates, CO, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Contrary to conventional urine testing, hair analysis offers an extended detection period and is difficult to tamper with. This makes hair testing a preferred choice for entities committed to zero-tolerance drug use policies.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Aetna Estates, CO provides a prolonged detection period for drug use, up to 90 days. This grants employers comprehensive insights into an individual's substance history. Such tests enable a thorough evaluation, providing reassurance and aiding in informed decision-making regarding prospective or current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Assessing drug use through hair follicle tests significantly diminishes the chances of sample tampering in Aetna Estates, CO. This method guarantees unquestionable results and strengthens confidence in the testing process, as it is nearly impossible to alter the sample, unlike other methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Offering both local and national coverage, our hair follicle testing locations in Aetna Estates, CO ensure convenient access to reliable testing services. Facilities nationwide offer a quick and hassle-free experience, making it straightforward for individuals and employers to conduct necessary assessments efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Aetna Estates, CO, the process of scheduling, executing, and obtaining hair follicle test results is simple and confidential. It prioritizes privacy while ensuring ease of use. Clients can feel assured about the safety of their personal information throughout the entire testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing strategies and quick turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Aetna Estates, CO represents affordable value for organizations of various sizes. Employers can enjoy cost-effective solutions while ensuring the timely delivery of accurate substance use results, essential for maintaining a safe work environment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Aetna Estates, CO, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for delivering speedy and precise outcomes. Recognized for their exceptional accuracy in identifying substance consumption, these tests provide trustworthy results. Unlike conventional methods, hair analysis offers results that employers can depend on, aiding in maintaining a secure workplace environment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Aetna Estates, CO gain peace of mind and compliance with zero-tolerance drug policies by employing hair follicle tests. This approach not only reduces legal liability but also boosts workplace safety, ensuring a drug-free environment and enhancing organizational integrity.

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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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