Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Elbert, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a comprehensive view of substance use history by encasing biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When sampled close to the scalp, hair can provide a detection period extending up to around three months for alcohol and other substances. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and transportation is convenient.

Collecting a 1.5-inch section consisting of about 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the area nearest the scalp yields 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG or those exceeding 10 panels, a sample weighing 150mg is advisable. It’s suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, equivalent body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves these four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any required data entry not already available via an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary and efficient method to identify potential drug abuse. While it’s a cost-effective approach to exclude drug use in many samples, any positive results in Screening must be confirmed to be accepted legally. Presumptively positive samples in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at far lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methods to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Necessary washing of all presumptive positive samples occurs before confirmation. The entire laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and is certified to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug use spanning up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which feature a shorter detection period.
• High resistance to cheating: The difficulty in falsifying a hair drug test enhances result accuracy.
• Provides historical data: It reveals a longer-term pattern of drug use, as opposed to only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: A timeframe of roughly 5-7 days is needed for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites found in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Elbert, CO outperforms traditional urine tests in several ways. It offers a higher level of accuracy and reliability, making it the preferred choice for extended detection needs.

Compared to urine tests, hair analyses provide a more comprehensive coverage of historical drug use, highlighting their effectiveness for stringent monitoring purposes.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Elbert, CO provide an extended detection window, reaching up to 90 days. This feature gives employers a detailed view of an individual's drug usage over a longer timeframe.

Unlike other methods, hair testing captures a complete snapshot of substance history, aiding in making well-informed hiring or retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the strengths of hair follicle tests in Elbert, CO is their resistance to tampering, greatly reducing adulteration risks and ensuring result authenticity.

These tests offer a robust solution to bypass methods aimed at falsifying test results, ensuring that the findings remain trustworthy and unchallenged.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our extensive network of testing locations, both nationally and within Elbert, CO, provides unmatched convenience. We ensure hassle-free and efficient access to our testing services.

The widespread availability of our centers supports quick and straightforward testing processes, enhancing the user experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Elbert, CO is straightforward and confidential, easing worries about privacy and usability.

From ordering to testing, and receiving results, each step is designed to maintain confidentiality and simplicity for the user's peace of mind.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing for hair follicle testing in Elbert, CO, coupled with fast turnaround times, provides excellent value for businesses of any size.

We pride ourselves on offering affordable solutions without sacrificing speed or quality, assuring companies of reliable and cost-effective services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Elbert, CO, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision and rapid results. This method offers unparalleled accuracy in spotting substance use, ensuring dependable results promptly.

The advanced technology behind hair testing guarantees quick results, making it an ideal choice for employers who demand reliable and timely drug testing solutions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Elbert, CO benefit from using hair follicle testing, assuring compliance with drug-free policies and decreasing legal vulnerabilities while promoting workplace safety.

Such testing helps maintain a drug-free environment, ensuring both legal adherence and promoting overall organizational well-being.

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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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