Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Edler, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become a widely accepted method for identifying alcohol and drug usage. Hair strands encapsulate biomarkers within their growing fibers, providing an extended history of substance use. By collecting hair near the scalp, a detection span of approximately three months for alcohol and drugs is feasible. The collection process is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

Obtaining a 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, which is the preferred sample amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, enhancements, or tests surpassing 10 panels, a recommendation of 150mg of specimen is advised. Utilizing a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a similar body hair quantity should be collected. The term "head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" pertains to other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

There are four primary stages in the laboratory analysis for a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a lab's database. This step verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any data entry not already supplied by an electronic chain of custody setup.

Screening functions as an initial swift evaluation for substances. While it offers a budget-friendly method to dismiss drug use in most cases, a positive screen mandates confirmation for judicial acceptance. Samples exhibiting presumptive positivity during this stage must undergo further confirmation.

Should a sample register presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the preliminary specimen and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.

Validation of any positive screening outcome occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples showing presumptive positivity are thoroughly cleansed. Every step, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes scrutiny in line with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can trace drug use back up to 90 days, unlike the shorter detection timeframe of urine tests.
• Challenging to manipulate: The difficulty in altering hair test results ensures more precise outcomes.
• Tracks usage history: It can reveal a usage trend over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Drugs typically become detectable in hair after 5-7 days.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Even though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis involves the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Edler, CO, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing through its superior accuracy and dependability. Hair tests can detect a broader range of substances over an extended period, offering clarity where urine tests might fall short. This precision is vital for making informed decisions in workplace settings.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing, with its extensive detection window of up to 90 days in Edler, CO, provides Employers with a thorough understanding of an individual’s substance use history. This method excels in offering a complete picture for an extended period compared to traditional testing techniques.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Edler, CO, hair follicle tests offer an enhanced level of security and reliability. Their less tamper-prone nature compared to other methods ensures that the results reflect an accurate and honest depiction of substance use, effectively thwarting attempts at sample adulteration.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing facilities available both nationwide and locally in Edler, CO, accessing hair follicle testing is easy and efficient. This widespread network guarantees that conducting tests is both straightforward and stress-free for Employers and individuals alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving results from hair follicle tests in Edler, CO, is straightforward and ensures confidentiality. Navigating the system is user-friendly, addressing both privacy concerns and the desire for a hassle-free experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Edler, CO, our hair follicle tests offer competitive pricing and swift result turnaround times. Companies of all sizes benefit from the exceptional value provided, ensuring that Employers can access high-quality testing methods without straining budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug tests in Edler, CO, make them an attractive option for those needing quick and reliable results. Their ability to accurately identify substances is unrivaled, ensuring Employers gain comprehensive insights into potential hires or current employees' drug histories.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Edler, CO, supports Employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies, thus enhancing safety and reducing potential legal ramifications. By ensuring compliance, Employers are granted peace of mind and uphold a secure work environment.

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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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