Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bristol, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained prominence as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended historical record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hairs (around the dimension of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is suggested to use 150mg of the sample. We advise measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a comparable amount of body hair can be utilized. When talking about head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory testing process for a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial intake of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step also entails confirming the appropriate sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) at random, and completing any necessary data entry not included by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening offers a cost-efficient method for ruling out drug use in most samples, yet a positive screen must be authenticated for court acceptance. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening require a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive in the Screening phase, further hair is drawn from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drug extraction from hair occurs at significantly lower concentrations in comparison to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), contributing to hair drug testing being the most challenging method to execute.

Positive screening confirmations are carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples preliminarily positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days, surpassing urine tests which detect within a shorter window.
• High integrity: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical context: It provides a timeline of substance use over time, rather than solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: It ordinarily takes around 5-7 days for substances to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Differences such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence the drug metabolite levels detected in hair.

Note: Although commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing is preferred in Bristol, CO, due to its superior detection accuracy over traditional urine tests. Urine tests are often limited to shorter detection periods, while hair analysis can reveal substance use over a much broader timeframe. This longer detection window gives employers a better insight into an individual's drug use history, making hair testing the superior choice for comprehensive detection.

Extended Detection Window

In Bristol, CO, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection period of up to 90 days. This comprehensive detection allows employers to gain a deeper understanding of an applicant or employee's substance history, providing a broader view not just confined to recent use but also considering past behaviors. Such a wide window improves hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the great advantages of hair follicle tests in Bristol, CO, is their tamper-resistant design. These tests significantly reduce the chances of sample adulteration. Since the hair sample is collected through an observed process, attempts to alter results are minimized, ensuring reliable and unquestionable outcomes, thereby maintaining the test integrity at all times.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key when it comes to drug testing, and in Bristol, CO, our nationwide network of testing centers makes it accessible. With local testing sites available, individuals can easily avail themselves of testing services without any hassles, ensuring quick and straightforward access. This seamless availability is designed to meet the diverse needs of clients across the nation efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Bristol, CO, the process for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential, addressing any concerns about privacy. Individuals can easily order tests, undertake the sampling, and receive results without complication or secrecy worries. This streamlined approach ensures that users experience a hassle-free journey from start to finish, maintaining discretion throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hair follicle testing in Bristol, CO, is offered at competitive prices with quick turnaround times. Our cost-effective pricing and rapid results provide companies of all sizes with excellent value while maintaining the peace of mind that comes from having reliable testing options that do not strain budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test offers unmatched precision and speed in Bristol, CO. These tests are designed to deliver rapid and precise results, confirming substance use with high accuracy. Compared to traditional tests, hair analysis stands out for its ability to detect substances quickly and with remarkable reliability, ensuring that employers and individuals can trust the validity of their results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Bristol, CO, can enhance their peace of mind and workplace safety with hair follicle testing. This method ensures adherence to drug-free policies through reliable screening, reducing potential legal risks. By using such accurate tests, organizations can maintain compliance and promote a safer working environment for all their employees.

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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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