Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bayfield, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and conveniently shippable.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is advised to use 150mg of the sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen measurement is recommended. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable volume of body hair can be used. References to head hair pertain specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Four key stages encompass the laboratory processing of drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory's system. This step includes ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry that is not furnished by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid evaluation for substances of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient method to negate drug usage in most cases, a positive screen must be corroborated to be legally acceptable. Any samples that are initially positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at markedly lower concentrations compared to other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), presenting a unique challenge in hair drug testing.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All preliminary positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is vetted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 certification.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter window of urine tests.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Captures historical usage: Hair tests can illustrate a pattern of drug usage over time, beyond just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is misleading as the test targets the hair strand, not the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In the competition between hair follicle tests and urine tests in Bayfield, CO, hair testing emerges superior. Extensive detection period and greater accuracy are the pillars of its effectiveness.

• Ability to detect drug use over a longer time frame
• Higher reliability compared to urine tests

Extended Detection Window

Bayfield, CO employers benefit greatly from the extended detection window provided by hair follicle testing. Capable of capturing a drug use history of up to 90 days, this method offers an in-depth view of an individual's past substance use. Long detection period helps ensure that no recent use goes unnoticed, making it paramount for comprehensive screening processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

For Bayfield, CO's organizations, hair follicle tests offer an almost impenetrable defense against tampering. This testing method minimizes the chances of sample adulteration, enhancing test reliability. Tamper-resistant by nature, hair tests ensure that results reflect true substance use history, providing unquestionable integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Bayfield, CO, accessing drug testing services is simplified with our widespread locations. Nationwide availability ensures that you can easily find nearby testing centers.

• Convenient locations throughout major cities
• Hassle-free access to testing

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Bayfield, CO is straightforward and private. Our procedures ensure confidentiality from start to finish. Simple and discreet, our process addresses any privacy concerns, ensuring information security while delivering effective and accessible testing solutions.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our testing services in Bayfield, CO are marked by competitive pricing and quick turnaround times. By providing substantial value and swift results, we ensure that companies of any size can benefit.

• Affordable pricing structures
• Fast result delivery

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Bayfield, CO, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and efficiency. Fast and accurate, these tests deliver reliable results, allowing for early detection of substance use.

• High accuracy in identifying drug use
• Swift results turnaround time

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Bayfield, CO achieve peace of mind through hair follicle tests' alignment with drug-free workplace policies. By ensuring compliance, these tests reduce legal risks while fostering a safe and productive environment. Compliance assurance is a key benefit, providing employers with a sense of security and responsibility in maintaining a drug-free workplace.

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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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