Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Greenwood, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying usage of drugs and alcohol. Hair serves as a long-term record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken from near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeline of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to send.

Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands closest to the scalp, roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil, yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and evaluations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial step, introducing a sample into the lab's system by ensuring the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data input that an electronic chain of custody system hasn't already supplied.

Screening conducts an initial assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening provides a budget-friendly approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, any positive result must be verified to be court-admissible. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening need further confirmation.

For samples that are presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction process. In this stage, drugs are removed from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug testing one of the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screenings is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if deemed necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and the compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can track drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeline.
• Challenging to manipulate: Hair drug tests are quite difficult to falsify, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers retrospective data: It offers insights into drug use patterns over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate usage: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to show up in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other types of drug tests.
• Variability in results: Aspects like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination is of the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparative Advantages of Hair Testing

In contrast to urine testing, hair follicle testing offers a superior and robust detection method. It provides enhanced accuracy and reliability, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of substance use history. This is particularly pivotal in professional settings where ensuring a drug-free environment is a high priority.

Why Hair Testing Stands Out

Employers in Greenwood, CO prefer hair testing due to its precision in uncovering drug use over a substantial period. This advantage surpasses the conventional urine test, ensuring a clearer understanding of an individual's drug usage.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Timeline of Detection

One critical benefit of hair follicle testing in Greenwood, CO, is its extensive detection window, reaching back up to 90 days. This capacity furnishes employers and decision-makers with a vital, long-term perspective on drug usage patterns in individuals under review.

A Wider Scope for Employers

This broader detection span offers a panoramic view of an employee or candidate’s history with substances, giving employers peace of mind and the ability to make informed, fair hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Reliable and Tamper-Proof

In Greenwood, CO, hair follicle tests set themselves apart with their significant resistance to tampering. Given the observed collection process, the risks of sample adulteration are substantially minimized, ensuring that results are consistent and trustworthy.

Integrity in Drug Testing

By choosing hair follicle testing, one can be assured of the method's ability to deter the common tampering techniques faced by urine tests, thus safeguarding the integrity of testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Accessibility

Our testing solutions in Greenwood, CO come with the advantage of convenience thanks to our extensive network of nationwide facilities. This makes accessing a hair follicle test simple and efficient for individuals and organizations.

Local and Nationwide Reach

With numerous local and national testing sites, we ensure that our services are within easy reach, providing a seamless experience for residents of Greenwood, CO, and beyond.

Simple, Confidential Process

Efficient and Discreet Testing Experience

At our Greenwood, CO location, we prioritize a straightforward and private process for conducting hair follicle tests. This includes seamless ordering, prompt testing, and secure reporting of results, addressing any privacy concerns.

Simplicity and Privacy Combined

The entire procedure is crafted to be intuitive, assuring confidentiality and ease for anyone seeking reliable drug testing services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective and Swift Testing

In Greenwood, CO, our pricing is structured to be competitive while ensuring a rapid turnaround. This combination offers excellent value, making drug testing affordable without compromising on quality or speed.

Fast Results, Fair Pricing

We are committed to delivering both cost savings and the efficiency businesses need, guaranteeing timely results that companies of all sizes can depend on.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and Speed with Hair Follicle Testing

In Greenwood, CO, hair follicle drug tests are noted for their quick and precise outcomes. The testing process is not only fast but also accurate, capturing a range of substances effectively. This allows for timely decision-making in various spheres, including workplace and legal settings.

Unmatched Test Accuracy

The hair follicle test is celebrated for its heightened accuracy over other drug testing methods. This precision ensures that false negatives are drastically reduced, building confidence in the results provided.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Safety

Through adopting hair follicle testing, employers in Greenwood, CO, can rest assured on the compliance front, maintaining adherence to drug-free workplace policies. It reduces potential litigation risks and promotes a secure, substance-free work environment.

Compliance Enforced, Risks Reduced

This method provides reassurance to employers, helping them uphold safety standards and regulatory compliance with ease, ultimately fostering a healthier workplace atmosphere.

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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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