Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brandon, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term indicators of substance usage by embedding biomarkers within the strands as it grows. Hair sampled near the scalp can provide a detection timeframe of roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. It's straightforward to collect, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section containing around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, perfect for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, or panels above 10, a 150mg sample is preferable. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing. If scalp hair isn't present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers solely to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails processing a sample into the laboratory system. This covers confirming the sample's secure sealing and shipping, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) randomly, and finishing any necessary data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary evaluation for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is economical for ruling out drug use in most samples, a confirmed positive result is needed for legal acceptability. Presumptive positive samples from Screening demand additional confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, further hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, hair undergoes drug extraction at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing particularly challenging.

Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The comprehensive process from Accessioning through Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests detect usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which cover a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to tamper with: Tampering with a hair drug test is highly challenging, leading to more reliable results.
• Reports historical usage: It reveals a pattern over time rather than just recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Despite the term "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Brandon, CO significantly surpasses urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability.
Through thorough analysis, these tests reveal a more comprehensive history of substance use, unlike standard urine tests that only identify recent drug intake.

In comparison to urine testing, hair follicle tests provide a prolonged detection period.
This extended capability allows employers to be more assured of an individual's substance use history, crucial for adherence to drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing provides an extensive detection window of up to 90 days, offering a prolonged view of substance use.
In Brandon, CO, this capability helps employers gain a deeper understanding of an individual's drug use history, significantly impacting hiring and retention decisions.

By detecting drug use over longer periods, hair follicle tests serve as an essential tool for evaluating the substance habits of potential employees.
This comprehensive insight is invaluable for fostering a safe, drug-free workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Brandon, CO offer a tamper-resistant alternative for drug testing, with a significant reduction in sample adulteration risk.
The reliability and authenticity of results from such tests are assured, minimizing the chances of cheating that are common in urine tests.

Ensuring reliable and unquestionable results, hair testing methods provide a conclusive analysis of substance use.
This testing approach is pivotal in legal and workplace settings, ensuring accurate representations of an individual's history.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With multiple accessible testing centers, Brandon, CO residents can easily access drug testing services.
Accredited Drug Testing offers nationwide coverage for convenience, ensuring that individuals receive top-notch services without hassle.

Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy access to testing facilities across multiple locations.
This commitment to convenience simplifies the process for clients, providing straightforward access to necessary testing services nationwide.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ordering hair follicle tests in Brandon, CO is a straightforward process, emphasizing confidentiality and ease.
With a simple and effective system, clients are assured of privacy in both process and results handling, reinforcing trust in our services.

Client confidentiality remains a key focus throughout the testing process.
From acquiring samples to delivering results, every step is handled with utmost discretion, ensuring the privacy and satisfaction of each client.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing for hair follicle tests in Brandon, CO, ensuring affordability with quick result times.
This commitment to value supports companies of any size in sustaining drug-free workplace environments without financial burdens.

Cost-effective testing and rapid turnaround ensure that businesses in Brandon, CO receive excellent value.
Prompt results, paired with affordable pricing structures, help maintain operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug testing method offers superior precision and speed when detecting substance use in Brandon, CO. Its accuracy is unmatched, providing reliable results promptly.
The high detection capabilities ensure substances are identified accurately, making it a preferred choice for employers prioritizing rapid yet accurate testing processes.

Utilizing hair samples for drug testing guarantees fast turnaround times, enhancing the reliability of results.
In Brandon, CO, Accredited Drug Testing centers ensure that procedure times are minimized, getting necessary results to decision-makers swiftly and without hassles.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing enables compliance with drug-free workplace policies, ensuring legal safety for Brandon, CO employers.
It reduces potential legal issues arising from substance use and supports the creation of a safe work environment.

The peace of mind provided by reliable hair testing methods helps employers protect their organizations.
With rigorous adherence to regulations, firms in Brandon can maintain their operational integrity while ensuring workplace safety.

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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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