Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Blue Mountain, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely regarded as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug usage by trapping markers within the growing strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly 3-month window for detecting drugs and alcohol. Collecting hair is straightforward, fairly resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for initial and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent measure of body hair can be taken. Head hair specifically denotes scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial and underarm hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the sample's initial integration into a lab's system. This step includes checking that the sample is properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not available via an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides an initial quick assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drug use on most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Any presumptive positives detected during Screening must undergo confirmation.

If the sample is indicated as positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (for instance, urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is regarded as the most intricate method.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are cleansed as needed before confirmation. The entire laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and 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, in contrast to the shorter window of urine tests.
• Challenging to falsify: Altering a hair drug test is highly challenging, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal drug use patterns over a span, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• No recent usage detection: It typically requires around 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than alternative testing methods.
• Variability in results: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences may influence the metabolism concentration in hair.

Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Blue Mountain, CO, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests, particularly with its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests hold a distinct edge due to their extended detection periods and resistance to tampering, providing clients and employers with the assurance of unambiguous results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Blue Mountain, CO provides an expanded detection window, charting substance use over a considerable duration of up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe allows employers to acquire a holistic view of an employee's or applicant's history with substances, offering clarity and informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Blue Mountain, CO, hair follicle testing significantly curtails the risks associated with sample manipulation. Due to the secure and monitored collection method, the test results remain legitimate and trustworthy, reinforcing integrity in testing procedures and ensuring peace of mind for all stakeholders.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Across Blue Mountain, CO, our nation-spanning network of testing centers facilitates effortless access to drug testing services. With convenient locations and expert staff, testing becomes a seamless experience, ensuring quick service and eliminating potential barriers for clients everywhere.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Blue Mountain, CO, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential, allowing users to effortlessly order, undergo, and receive their test results. This simple approach ensures privacy, accommodating those concerned with discretion and the ease of obtaining necessary testing information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Blue Mountain, CO, our competitive hair follicle testing offers affordability coupled with rapidly processed results, promising excellent value for businesses of diverse scales. With this cost-effective solution, companies gain confidence in the comprehensive testing quality delivered promptly and efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Blue Mountain, CO, hair follicle drug tests deliver exceptional precision and speed, setting a high standard in substance detection. These tests accurately uncover a wide spectrum of substances, ensuring reliable results that clients can trust. With a streamlined process, results are obtained swiftly, making it an ideal choice for those requiring prompt outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Blue Mountain, CO employers can achieve compliance and tranquility by incorporating hair follicle testing in their operations. This testing method supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal liabilities and fostering a safer, more secure work environment for all.

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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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