Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Atwood, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair screening has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to a three-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, an ideal sample size for analysis. For EtG, add-ons, and/or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. A jeweler’s scale is recommended for precise measurement. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. In this context, head hair refers to scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages involved in the laboratory analysis of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial incorporation of a sample into the laboratory's system. This step entails verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a quick preliminary check for drug abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use on most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

If a specimen tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample to prepare for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in alternative methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of positive screening results is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which offer a shorter detection span.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is exceptionally challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical use data: It offers a pattern of substance use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lack of recent use detection: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence metabolite concentration.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the evaluation targets the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Choosing hair follicle testing over urine testing in Atwood, CO reveals clear benefits. Its superior detection accuracy extends to drug use history, providing reliability unmatched by traditional urine tests.

Compared to urine tests, hair follicle screening delivers comprehensive detection over extended periods, making it a preferred choice for employers seeking assurance in their testing protocols.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Atwood, CO offers a prolonged detection window of up to 90 days, capturing drug use history and providing employers insights into an individual's substance consumption.

With a 90-day detection period, employers gain a comprehensive view of an applicant’s or employee’s substance past, offering a wider lens compared to shorter-duration tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Atwood, CO relies on hair follicle tests to reduce sample adulteration risks. This testing method ensures sample integrity and provides unquestionable results.

Hair follicle testing stands strong against tampering, offering a dependable solution for entities needing confidence in their drug testing results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our extensive network of testing centers ensures accessibility in Atwood, CO. With locations nationwide, testing services are quick, convenient, and hassle-free, meeting diverse client needs.

Nationwide testing, including close reach in Atwood, CO, offers the flexibility and ease necessary for diverse business requirements, facilitating smoother operations.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Atwood, CO is straightforward and confidential. With easy ordering and result retrieval, individuals receive services that respect their privacy.

Simplicity and confidentiality are key in our process, providing peace of mind during testing and result distribution, keeping personal privacy in the forefront.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Atwood, CO, our pricing and swift turnaround for hair follicle testing offer peace of mind and competitive value. Companies of all sizes find affordability without compromising accuracy.

Sticking to affordable rates and quick results, hair follicle tests provide great value for companies, ensuring swift detection with economic convenience.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Atwood, CO set them apart. They offer high accuracy in detecting substance use, ensuring reliable results. Quickly identifying past drug use is crucial for employers and enforcement agencies.

Hair follicle tests deliver dependable results promptly. Detection accuracy stands out when swift decision-making is required, giving users confidence in the outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Atwood, CO gain compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method supports drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing job safety.

By using hair follicle tests, businesses adhere to strict drug policy standards, ensuring compliance and enabling a safer, more secure workplace environment.

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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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