Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hale, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as a compelling method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow, hair serves as a repository for long-term substance use history. Collected near the scalp, it can reveal alcohol and drug use over nearly a three-month duration. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hairs (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) taken nearest the scalp provides 100mg, which is the perfect sample mass for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. When scalp hair isn’t available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we refer only to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other types of hair (facial, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for drug test results includes the steps of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase involving integrating a sample into the laboratory system. This step ensures the sample's secure seal and proper shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any needed data entry lacking in the electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is economical for discounting drug use in most samples, a positive screening must be verified for legal admissibility. Samples suspected to be positive during Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample to prepare for Extraction. Extraction involves isolating drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), posing challenges unique to hair drug testing.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory procedure, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is evaluated according to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can uncover drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have shorter detection periods.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, ensuring more accurate results.
• Tracks usage history: It can reveal a pattern of drug usage over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: About 5-7 days are needed for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to cost more than other drug testing options.
• Differences in results: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the procedure assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

A prominent advantage of hair testing over urine tests in Hale is its unmatched detection accuracy and reliability, making it superior for comprehensive substance use evaluation. (Token URINE)

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing grants an extended detection window, stretching up to 90 days, thus providing a long-term overview of substance use. Employers gain a fuller understanding of an individual’s history. (Token DETECT)

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Employing a hair follicle test in Hale minimizes the risk of tampering, ensuring the integrity of results remains intact. (Token TAMPER)

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our numerous testing centers across the nation provide seamless accessibility, ensuring that testing in Hale is straightforward and efficient. (Token LOCATIONS)

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing is designed for simplicity and confidentiality, making ordering, testing, and result acquisition an effortless and private experience in Hale. (Token SIMPLE)

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, our testing services in Hale offer excellent value, catering to businesses of all sizes. (Token AFFORDABLE)

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Reliable and swift, hair follicle testing in Hale, CO offers exceptional precision in detecting past substance use. (Token RESULTS)

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employing hair follicle testing aligns with drug-free workplace initiatives, ensuring compliance and fostering a safer work environment in Hale. (Token PEACE)

Drug Testing Near Hale, CO

Yuma, CO

Seibert, CO

Vona, CO

Eckley, CO

Stratton, CO

Kit Carson, CO

Laird, CO

Wray, CO

Joes, CO

Bethune, CO

Kirk, CO

Burlington, CO

Peconic, CO

South Divide, CO

Idalia, 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