What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair offers an extended timeline for alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the growing hair strand's fibers. When obtained close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection window for alcohol and drugs of up to about 3 months. Hair is easy to collect, somewhat hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hairs (comparable to a #2 pencil in size) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for drug test results includes four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves entering a sample into a lab's system initially. This process includes ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While screening is cost-effective for ruling out drug usage in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for court admissibility. Samples presumptively positive in screening require secondary confirmation.

If a screening indicates a presumptive positive, more hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter window.
Hard to deceive: A hair drug test is challenging to deceive, ensuring accurate results.
Offers historical insight: It can show a drug usage pattern over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

Cannot detect recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days before drugs become detectable in hair.
Cost: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other drug testing methods.
Result variations: Factors such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When evaluating drug testing methods, hair follicle testing stands out in Arboles, CO for its superior detection accuracy and consistency compared to traditional urine tests.
Key Benefits:

Longer detection periods provide a comprehensive view.
Hair tests are more difficult to tamper with.
Offers reliable results not achievable with urine tests.

This makes hair testing a preferred choice for many organizations.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Arboles, CO offer an extended detection window, up to 90 days, revealing a wider substance use history.
Why It Matters:

Provides a historical snapshot of drug use over months, rather than days.
Assists employers in making informed decisions.

This comprehensive detection capability is essential for maintaining a safe workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Arboles, CO, the hair follicle testing method offers tamper-resistant testing, ensuring accuracy and integrity.
Highlights:

Drastically reduces the risk of sample adulteration.
Provides reliable and unquestionable results.

The resilient nature of this method ensures confidence in test results, underpinning its efficacy in various testing scenarios.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers nationwide and locally in Arboles, CO, accessing our testing services is straightforward and convenient.
Advantages:

Wide network ensures ease of access.
Hassle-free testing experience.

No matter where you are, our centers provide quick and efficient testing solutions across the region.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Arboles, CO, the process for hair follicle testing is designed to be simple and confidential.
Process Features:

Ordering tests is straightforward and private.
Confidentiality maintained from start to finish.

This method respects privacy while ensuring a streamlined experience, addressing user concerns effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Arboles, CO, provides great value.
Key Points:

Affordably priced to suit businesses of all sizes.
Fast result delivery ensures minimal downtime.

These benefits ensure companies can economically and efficiently manage their testing needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Arboles, CO, hair follicle drug testing is known for its rapid and precise results. This method ensures a high accuracy in detecting substance use, providing results quickly and reliably.