Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Castle Pines, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month period of substance use. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches in length comprising roughly 200 strands of hair (approximating the thickness of a #2 pencil) sourced closest to the scalp will weigh around 100mg, considered the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It's suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be taken. In the context of head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning deals with the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s database. This stage includes validating the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, any positive findings need confirmation for legal acceptance. Samples showing presumptive positive results require an additional confirmation step.

If a screening result is presumptive positive, more hair will be extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. This stage isolates drugs from hair in much lower concentrations compared to other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), emphasizing the complexity of hair drug screening as a methodology.

Verification of any positive screening outcome utilizes techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing prior to confirmation if necessary. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug testing can track drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, ensuring the accuracy of results.
• Historical insight: It offers a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Differences like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Castle Pines, CO residents appreciate the advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests, recognizing its superior detection and reliability. The ability to monitor drug use over an extended timeframe provides a more comprehensive assessment than traditional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle drug test in Castle Pines, CO, offers a significantly extended detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain a far-reaching insight into an applicant's or employee's substance habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Castle Pines, CO, trusts in the hair follicle tests as a robust, tamper-resistant method. These tests dramatically minimize the risk of alteration, ensuring results are accurate and indisputable.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Castle Pines, CO benefits from our wide network of national testing centers, offering convenient, fast, and stress-free testing services. Local facilities enhance this accessibility by providing community-based support.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Castle Pines, CO is straightforward and confidential. Customers appreciate the simplicity in ordering, undergoing tests, and receiving results, all while maintaining complete privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Castle Pines, CO, receives excellent value through our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times. This cost-effectiveness grants companies of various sizes peace of mind and reliability in service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Castle Pines, CO, hair follicle drug testing delivers exceptional precision and swiftness. With their remarkable accuracy, these tests effectively identify substance consumption, offering users speedy and dependable outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Businesses in Castle Pines, CO, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to stringent drug-free policies. Such testing reduces legal risks and fosters a safer workplace environment.

Drug Testing Near Castle Pines, CO

Centennial, CO

Castle Rock, CO

Stonegate, CO

Highlands Ranch, CO

Grand View Estates, CO

Acres Green, CO

Louviers, CO

Meridian, CO

Gateway, CO

Lone Tree, CO

Heritage Hills, CO

Sedalia, CO

Castle Pines North, CO

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews