Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gleneagle, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now regarded as a key method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-standing record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the elongating hair strand. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer a detection span of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to obtain, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to send.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample for initial screening and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is advised. It is suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, an equal portion of body hair may be harvested. 'Head hair' solely pertains to scalp hair. 'Body hair' encompasses all other kinds of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four key procedures in lab handling of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the initial entry of a sample into a lab’s system. This process includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid test for narcotics. Although Screening is a cost-conscious approach to negate drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be validated to stand in court. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. At this point, drugs are separated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or saliva), thus making hair drug screening the most intricate method to execute.

Verification of any positive screening result occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample is cleansed prior to verification as necessary. The end-to-end lab procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can recognize drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: Falsifying a hair drug test is quite challenging, enhancing result credibility.
• Offers usage history: It reveals a trend of drug intake over an extended duration, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Can't identify recent intake: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to register in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than alternative drug test techniques.
• Result discrepancies: Elements such as hair pigment and personal hair growth differences can impact the presence of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the examination evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Gleneagle, CO
Compared to urine tests, hair follicle testing offers superior benefits including a longer detection window. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug use over time, which is crucial for employers and legal entities seeking trustworthy results.

The reliability of hair testing is unmatched, providing detailed insights into usage patterns while minimizing potential inaccuracies commonly associated with urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Gleneagle, CO
Hair follicle testing is renowned for its ability to detect drug use over an extended period, typically up to 90 days. This prolonged window provides a detailed account of a person's substance use history, proving invaluable for employers and organizations checking an individual’s long-term abstinence.

This extensive detection capability can be critical in various scenarios, offering a full perspective that surpasses many traditional methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Gleneagle, CO
Hair follicle tests significantly reduce the risk of sample tampering or adulteration, ensuring the integrity of results. Their design makes them less susceptible to deceitful practices, providing reliable and conclusive outcomes every time.

The tamper-resistant nature of these tests instills confidence in their validity and makes them a trusted choice for ensuring accurate substance use screening.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Gleneagle, CO
Our testing centers are available nationwide, including local options in Gleneagle, CO, making access to hair follicle testing convenient and hassle-free. This network ensures ease of service regardless of your location.

The widespread availability allows for quick scheduling and reduces travel time, streamlining the process for routine or urgent testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Gleneagle, CO
Our hair follicle testing procedure is straightforward and maintains strict confidentiality. From ordering to receiving your results, we ensure your privacy at every step.

The simplicity of the process means every step is easy to comprehend and manage, ensuring personal information remains secure throughout the testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Gleneagle, CO
We offer competitive pricing with quick turnaround times for hair follicle tests, delivering excellent value to businesses of all sizes. Our services are designed to provide peace of mind without compromising on speed or quality.

Whether for large corporations or small enterprises, our cost-effective solutions can accommodate varying budgetary needs while providing dependable results promptly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Gleneagle, CO
Hair follicle drug tests are known for their swift and precise results. These tests successfully identify various substances with much higher accuracy compared to other testing methods. Due to their precision, they provide a clear and well-documented view of a person's drug use history.

Advanced techniques ensure that hair testing delivers prompt and trustworthy outcomes, allowing for faster decision-making based on accurate data in Gleneagle, CO.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Gleneagle, CO
By adopting hair follicle testing, employers can maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies with ease. This method reduces legal risks and promotes a safer working environment, offering reassurance and peace of mind to employers.

Utilizing these tests can enhance organizational safety protocols and help mitigate potential liabilities related to substance abuse issues.

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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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