Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Coal Creek, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments have increasingly gained recognition as a potent means to identify substance and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers in the fibers of the emerging hair shaft. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to obtain, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 strands of hair (comparable to a #2 pencil’s diameter) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for examination and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or testing exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advisable. We suggest determining the specimen's weight on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair can be gathered. When referring to head hair, we exclusively mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal stages involved in the laboratory analysis of a drug testing outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample into the laboratory’s framework. This process consists of confirming that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective approach to exclude drug usage on most samples, a positive screen needs validation to be accepted in legal proceedings. Any samples that are tentatively positive during Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample appear tentatively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are removed from hair at a notably lower concentration than in other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening presents the greatest challenge in execution.

Verification of any positive screening result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All tentatively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation as well as the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug assessments can ascertain drug consumption for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine assessments which feature a shorter detection timeframe.
• Challenge to deceive: Manipulating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Offers historical insight: It can provide a longitudinal view of drug use over a timeframe, rather than merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for substances to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug assessments typically cost more than other drug testing methodologies.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair pigmentation and individual disparities in hair growth can influence the drug metabolites’ concentration within the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and excludes the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Coal Creek, CO, hair follicle testing has become a preferred choice over traditional urine tests. Hair tests provide superior detection accuracy and reliability, capturing a more extended window of substance use, up to 90 days, unlike urine tests. This method reduces the possibility of tampering and circumvents the short detection challenges posed by urine tests, offering a more comprehensive evaluation of an individual's substance history.

Extended Detection Window

In Coal Creek, CO, hair follicle testing is renowned for its extended detection duration, accurately identifying drug use for up to 90 days. This timeframe surpasses traditional testing methods, giving employers a comprehensive perspective of an employee or candidate's historical substance use. By providing a long-term view, hair follicle testing supports informed decision-making and promotes a drug-free workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Coal Creek, CO, is a robust technique that significantly diminishes the risk of sample manipulation. Its tamper-resistant nature ensures that the results are reliable and beyond doubt. This testing method is designed to maintain sample integrity throughout the entire process, providing credible and unquestionable outcomes every time it's applied.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Coal Creek, CO residents benefit from the convenience of Accredited's extensive network of testing centers. With locations across the country, accessing drug testing services is both quick and hassle-free. Locally, in Coal Creek, efficient and prompt testing services ensure that your needs are met with minimal disruption to your schedule, regardless of where you are.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Coal Creek, CO, is straightforward and private. From test ordering to sample collection and receiving results, every step is designed with confidentiality in mind. The hassle-free procedure ensures that privacy concerns are addressed, offering a user-friendly experience for individuals seeking reliable drug testing solutions.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Coal Creek, CO, employers can appreciate the competitive pricing and fast processing times of our hair follicle testing services. Designed to provide excellent value, our cost-effective pricing structures, combined with quick turnaround times, deliver peace of mind and operational efficiency for all companies, regardless of size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Experience fast, precise, and reliable outcomes with hair follicle drug testing in Coal Creek, CO. This method offers unparalleled accuracy in identifying substance use with swift results. The robust testing process ensures the integrity and reliability of the detection methods employed. Whether for employers or individuals, the results delivered are dependable and quick, minimizing downtime and ensuring compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in Coal Creek, CO, offers employers compliance assurance with workplace drug-free initiatives, significantly reducing legal implications and enhancing the safety environment. The process aligns with company policies and industry standards, providing peace of mind to employers by mitigating the risks associated with substance abuse on the job.

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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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