Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cherry Creek, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of alcohol and drugs by holding onto markers within the fibers of the hair shaft as it grows. When harvested near to the scalp, hair can offer a detection window for alcohol and drugs up to around three months. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch lock comprising roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for testing and verification. For EtG, extra tests, and/or screenings beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample. If head hair is not available, an equivalent sample of body hair may be taken. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four key steps involved in the lab handling of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the basic initial handling of a sample within a lab's framework. This encompasses checking that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, giving it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary swift evaluation for illicit drugs. Although Screening serves as a cost-effective technique to rule out drug intake in the majority of samples, a positive Screening requires confirmation to be defensible in legal scenarios. Samples with presumed positives in Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.

In the event of a presumed positive during Screening, additional hair is gathered from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentration levels than with alternate techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the toughest methods to conduct.

Positive results from the Screening stage are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples with presumed positives undergo a wash before undergoing confirmation if needed. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug usage spanning up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a briefer detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, ensuring more trustworthy outcomes.
• Shows usage patterns: It can illustrate a pattern of substance use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapability to identify recent intake: Drugs require about 5-7 days to become detectible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing usually incurs greater costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result discrepancies: Variables like hair color and personal hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", this analysis examines the hair shaft and not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Cherry Creek, CO outperforms traditional urine tests through its superior detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection window, hair tests can uncover drug use over an extended period, offering a more comprehensive substance history.

The reliability of hair tests over urine ones is particularly beneficial where extensive drug use history is scrutinized. Employers and legal institutions favor it for its unmatched accuracy.

Extended Detection Window

One of the primary advantages of hair follicle testing in Cherry Creek, CO is its extended detection window. Unlike urine tests that cover only recent drug use, hair tests span up to 90 days, offering a thorough assessment.

This makes hair testing invaluable for employers seeking a detailed insight into an individual’s drug use history, helping in informed decision-making and robust safety measures.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Cherry Creek, CO, hair follicle tests are highly appreciated for their tamper-resistant nature. The collection of hair samples substantially lessens the likelihood of sample alteration or contamination.

This methodology delivers untainted, trustworthy results, giving employers and legal professionals confidence in the integrity of the testing outcome, an advantage over other methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing services in Cherry Creek, CO are boosted by convenient nationwide locations. This network ensures easy access, minimal waiting times, and a smooth process for clients needing to undergo drug testing.

With local centers also available, the testing procedure becomes hassle-free, accommodating both individuals and organizations promptly and efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple and confidential nature of the hair follicle testing process in Cherry Creek, CO addresses privacy and ease concerns. Ordering, testing, and receiving results are straightforward, ensuring discretion at each step.

With an emphasis on maintaining confidentiality, participants can trust in the integrity and simplicity of the process, reducing stress and ensuring satisfaction.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Cherry Creek, CO, our hair follicle testing boasts affordable pricing and quick turnaround. By maintaining competitive pricing structures, we ensure excellent value for companies of all sizes, enabling cost-effective solutions.

Fast results delivery further enhances our service appeal, allowing for efficient decision-making and continuity in operations without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cherry Creek, CO, hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed. High accuracy is a standout feature, ensuring reliable detection of substance use, thus making these tests indispensable for both employers and legal entities.

With the hair follicle method, results are produced rapidly, providing fast turnaround times. This reliability is crucial for efficient decision-making and maintaining safety, making them superior to other testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Cherry Creek, CO gain significant peace of mind from hair follicle testing’s compliance capabilities. By aligning with drug-free workplace policies, this method mitigates potential legal issues while fostering a safe environment.

Implementing such robust testing helps in upholding policy adherence and facilitates a safeguarded work setting, reducing legal and safety concerns.

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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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