Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gateway, CO

What it is, How it works

The utilization of hair testing is increasingly regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection timeline of up to roughly three months for alcohol and additional substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising around 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal specimen for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen’s weight. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be utilized. References to head hair specifically denote scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test outcome comprises four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a specimen within a laboratory’s system. This encompasses verifying the proper sealing and shipment of the specimen, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening involves an expedient initial analysis for substance misuse. Although Screening is an economical means to dismiss drug usage for most samples, a positive result must be validated to be legally admissible. Any samples indicating presumptive positivity in Screening require subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to the complexity of performing hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is accomplished via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity undergo washing prior to confirmation as warranted. Every aspect of the laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can discern drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which offer a lesser detection period.
• Enhanced test integrity: The difficulty in compromising a hair drug test enhances result accuracy.
• Historical usage insight: Hair drug testing can trace a pattern of substance use over time, instead of solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Higher expense: The cost of hair drug tests generally surpasses that of alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Differences in hair color and individual variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the evaluation itself examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why choose hair follicle testing over urine tests in Gateway, CO? Hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and reliability.

• Hair tests extend the detection window to about 90 days, capturing drug use history more comprehensively.
• The method is less susceptible to tampering, ensuring credible results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Gateway, CO offers an extended detection window, making it an invaluable tool for employers.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Gateway, CO ensures reliable results.

• This method greatly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, providing trustworthy data.
• Sample integrity is maintained during collection and analysis, virtually eliminating opportunities for manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key with our testing locations in Gateway, CO.

• Our nationwide network of centers ensures easy access to hair follicle testing services without hassle.
• Local Gateway centers enable quick and efficient testing processes, accommodating busy schedules for individuals and organizations alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Gateway, CO is simple and confidential.

• From ordering to receiving results, each step prioritizes user privacy and straightforwardness.
• Clients can trust that their information is secure, allowing focus on what matters - the results and their implications.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Gateway, CO, our hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times.
This service delivers great value for companies of varying sizes.

• Affordable pricing structures help manage costs while ensuring high-quality testing.
• Fast results minimize waiting periods, facilitating timely decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Gateway, CO, hair follicle testing is synonymous with fast and accurate outcomes. This method's high precision detects substance use efficiently, establishing it as a preferred choice for many agencies.
The reliability stems from analyzing the hair's stable composition over time, ensuring accuracy and quick processing.
This efficient system allows rapid feedback, reinforcing its role in maintaining safety and compliance across various domains.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing assures compliance and peace of mind for employers in Gateway, CO.

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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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