Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Florence, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair evaluations are recognized as an effective resource for identifying substance and alcohol usage. Hair captures a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands' fibers as they form. Taken near the scalp, hair offers close to a 90-day observation period for alcohol and substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, moderately tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.

A sample size of 1.5 inches consisting of 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or assessments beyond 10 panels, a specimen size of 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If head hair is missing, an equivalent volume of body hair can be gathered. Reference to head hair specifically denotes scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test outcome is processed through four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary management of a sample within the lab's system. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data input absent from an electronic custody chain.

Screening conducts an initial swift assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening economically discounts drug use in most specimens, a definitive screen must be verified for court acceptability. Samples indicating presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

A presumptive positive sample from Screening prompts additional hair collection from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a notably lower concentration than in methods like urine or oral fluid, highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.

Verification of any presumptive positive screen is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug assessments can trace drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine assessments cover a shorter span.
• Cheating challenges: Meriting greater accuracy, hair drug tests are notably tamper-resistant.
• Records past usage: Hair tests can illustrate trends in drug usage over time, beyond just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: A period of 5-7 days is needed for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments generally incur higher costs than alternative testing approaches.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", this assessment actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outperforms urine tests in Florence, CO, due to its exceptional detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which only provide a short detection window, hair tests offer extended insight into substance use.

The reliability of hair tests lies in their ability to detect a wider range of substances. These tests also effectively minimize the risks of sample adulteration, which is more prevalent in urine testing.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window, hair follicle testing in Florence, CO, offers a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use over the past 90 days. This allows employers to better understand an applicant's or employee's long-term substance history.

This longer detection period ensures that any instances of drug use are not easily overlooked, providing a detailed history that is invaluable for companies evaluating long-term habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Florence, CO, significantly reduce the risk of sample tampering. By providing an inherently tamper-resistant testing method, these tests ensure that results are reliable and indisputable.

Unlike other testing methods, hair samples are difficult to alter or replace, ensuring integrity and trust in the results obtained, which is crucial for maintaining accountability and transparency.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers available nationwide, including those in Florence, CO, accessing hair follicle testing services is simple and hassle-free. This convenience ensures individuals and companies can swiftly fulfill their testing needs.

The existence of local centers, coupled with nationwide support, alleviates logistical challenges, underscoring the ease with which testing can be conducted anywhere.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for ordering and undertaking hair follicle tests in Florence, CO, is designed to be straightforward and confidential, ensuring participant privacy. This simplicity ensures ease of use, from ordering to receiving results.

Test-takers can be confident in the confidentiality of their results, knowing that their privacy and discretion are pivotal components of the entire process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Florence, CO, ensures affordability and value. These aspects make the tests accessible to companies of all sizes.

The fast processing of results combined with cost-effective pricing provides organizations with peace of mind, making investing in substance detection feasible and beneficial.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Florence, CO, hair follicle drug tests ensure precision and speed in delivering fast results. By meticulously analyzing hair samples, these tests guarantee high accuracy in substance detection, surpassing traditional methods.

The ability to quickly process hair samples means individuals and organizations receive timely updates on substance use. This rapid turnaround is invaluable for employers seeking reliable information when making informed decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Florence, CO, benefit from peace of mind with hair follicle testing, as it aids in adhering to drug-free workplace policies. This not only enhances safety but also minimizes the legal risks associated with workplace substance use.

Compliance with stringent substance policies through hair testing can protect employers, ensure a safer working environment, and promote a responsible workforce.

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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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