Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Floyd Hill, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands store long-term usage markers by embedding biomarkers within their growing fibers. When trimmed near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of roughly three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hairs (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for testing and validation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair may be taken. When we mention head hair, we're specifying scalp hair exclusively. Body hair refers to all other hair varieties (facial, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory drug test process encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the initial sample entry into a laboratory’s system, ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial, cost-effective check for drugs, helping rule out usage on most samples, although a positive result from Screening requires Confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples testing presumptive positive during Screening need secondary verification.

If a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and set for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of a positive Screening result is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before Confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, follows the guidelines set by both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards for accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage over a 90-day period, unlike urine tests, which offer a shorter detection window.
• Challenge to manipulate: It is highly challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insights: The method can display a pattern of drug usage over time, beyond immediate consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to pinpoint recent use: Detection in hair takes about 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing modalities.
• Result inconsistency: Factors such as hair color and individual growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests," this test examines the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Floyd Hill, CO offers a superior alternative to traditional urine tests. Benefits of hair testing include greater accuracy in detection and enhanced reliability. While urine tests are commonplace, hair testing provides a wider detection window, making it exceptionally difficult to deceive. This makes hair testing more suited for stringent policies demanding comprehensive drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Floyd Hill, CO offers substantial advantages. With the ability to track drug use for up to 90 days, employers receive a thorough substance use history of candidates or employees. This longer detection period is invaluable for making informed hiring or retention decisions, ensuring that only reliable individuals meet workplace standards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Floyd Hill, CO allows for tamper-resistant drug detection. Unlike urine tests, the risk of sample adulteration is significantly minimized. With a hair test, the integrity of the results is preserved, ensuring that the outcome is reliable and beyond question. This makes hair testing an ideal choice for environments where authenticity is of the utmost importance.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key with our testing services in Floyd Hill, CO. Offering numerous nationwide testing centers, access to hair follicle testing is hassle-free and efficient. Whether local or across the country, our network ensures quick and easy access to testing services, facilitating necessary checks without the inconvenience often associated with drug testing processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Floyd Hill, CO is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to obtaining results, the process prioritizes privacy and ease. Individuals can rest assured that their information is handled with care, while efficiently receiving their results. This makes hair testing not just effective, but also user-friendly and respectful of privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing in Floyd Hill, CO offers competitive pricing and swift turnaround times. This ensures excellent value for companies of all sizes looking for reliable drug testing solutions. By emphasizing affordability and rapid results, businesses can confidently invest in superior drug detection methods without exceeding budget constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Floyd Hill, CO, hair follicle drug tests deliver speed and accuracy. These tests are precise, offering high reliability and accurate detection of substance use. Unlike other methods, hair tests provide a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance intake over time. This is crucial for employers needing reliable data with a fast turnaround and results that facilitate informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Floyd Hill, CO, using hair follicle tests ensures strict compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety by confirming that employees adhere to policy standards. Hair testing promotes peace of mind, offering a reliable approach to mitigate potential legal concerns associated with substance abuse.

Drug Testing Near Floyd Hill, CO

Herzman Mesa, CO

Dumont, CO

Genesee, CO

Central Jefferson, CO

Evergreen, CO

Kittredge, CO

Central City, CO

Black Hawk, CO

Wah Keeney Park, CO

Brookvale, CO

Idaho Springs, CO

Bergen Park, CO

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews