Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Berkley, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair exhibits an extended record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers as the hair naturally grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can provide an estimated 3-month detection timeline for alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to ship.

A 1.5-inch hair sample comprising about 200 strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will give 100mg of hair, the ideal quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments greater than 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar amount of body hair can be gathered. When referencing head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal stages involved in lab processing of a drug testing result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample into a lab’s procedure. This step includes confirming the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not given by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid check for substance use. While Screening serves as an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be legally admissible. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening warrant secondary confirmation.

If a sample appears presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, hair yields drugs at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS equipment is used for confirming any positive screening findings. All samples deemed presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug intake for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is quite difficult, enhancing the reliability of results.
• Provides usage history: It reveals a historical pattern of drug consumption, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent intake: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments generally cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Characteristics like hair color and individual hair growth differences can alter the levels of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair shaft rather than the follicle itself beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Berkley, CO, hair follicle testing stands as a superior alternative to traditional urine tests. The key benefit lies in its unrivaled detection accuracy and dependability. Unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection window, hair testing captures evidence of substance use over an extended period. This increased reliability affords employers and officials a more accurate account of an individual's long-term substance behavior.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing is a significant advantage for Berkley, CO employers. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior, this method provides a comprehensive view of an applicant or employee’s substance history. Employers benefit from in-depth insights, ensuring informed hiring and monitoring decisions that go beyond the limitations of shorter detection methods like urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug tests offer a tamper-resistant option for individuals and organizations in Berkley, CO. Unlike urine testing, the risk of sample adulteration is significantly minimized with hair analysis. This inherent resistance to tampering safeguards the integrity of test results, providing reliable outcomes that can be trusted, thereby reinforcing the credibility of the testing process significantly.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessing testing services in Berkley, CO is seamless with our expansive network of nationwide centers. We ensure that our clients experience quick and hassle-free testing procedures, removing any potential barriers. The convenience offered by our extensive facility reach guarantees prompt service delivery, facilitating easy access to necessary drug testing across various locations, including local ones in Berkley.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our hair follicle testing process in Berkley, CO is designed to be simple and confidential, addressing privacy and usability concerns. From order initiation to result generation, each step is streamlined to maximize participant comfort and confidentiality. Clients can rest assured of the discreet handling of their testing experience, achieving ease of use without compromising on the privacy of sensitive information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Berkley, CO, our approach combines affordable pricing with fast turnaround times, catering to companies of all sizes. We offer value for money with our competitive pricing structures, ensuring that drug testing is accessible and budget-friendly. Quick result generation further complements our services, providing peace of mind and satisfaction for budget-conscious clients seeking efficient testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug testing make it exceptionally effective in Berkley, CO. Its outstanding accuracy in substance detection is one of its most notable strengths. Hair tests are engineered to provide fast results, capturing an individual’s substance history with remarkable correctness. For those in need of quick and accurate results, this method offers unmatched reliability, setting it apart from traditional testing techniques.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Berkley, CO supports employer compliance with workplace drug policies, offering peace of mind. For organizations prioritizing a drug-free environment, this method reduces legal risks and enhances safety, crucial for compliance. By adopting hair-based testing, businesses can bolster their policy enforcement effectively, ensuring that workplace safety standards are met consistently and thoroughly.

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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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