Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Howard, CO

Employment, DOT, Court Ordered, Personal
Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG

7 Hair Drug Testing Centers in Howard

Minutes Away, Test Today

1000 Rush Dr14.47 miles

1000 Rush Dr
Salida, CO 81201

1031 E Rainbow Blvd 1031 B-us Hwy 50 #b14.47 miles

1031 E Rainbow Blvd 1031 B-us Hwy 50 #b
Salida, CO 81201

3245 E Us Highway 50 Unit E24.38 miles

3245 E Us Highway 50 Unit E
Canon City, CO 81212

3239 Independence Rd35.30 miles

3239 Independence Rd
Canon City, CO 81212

1101 Teller County Rd 140.33 miles

1101 Teller County Rd 1
Cripple Creek, CO 80813

28374 County Road 31746.70 miles

28374 County Road 317
Buena Vista, CO 81211

715 Trout Haven Rd46.78 miles

715 Trout Haven Rd
Florissant, CO 80816

Employment, Court Ordered, Probation, Family

In Howard, Colorado, Accredited Drug Testing offers thorough hair follicle drug testing services. Specializing in hair-based drug and alcohol assessments, we provide facilities in multiple cities across the nation equipped to conduct such examinations. Typically, a length of 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the scalp or body can be tested. These analyses can identify drugs, alcohol, ETG, or other specified substances.

Recently, methods for drug testing have increasingly favored hair follicle assessments. Employers, judicial bodies, and substance abuse experts now often prefer this over traditional urine tests. This non-invasive method benefits employers with strict no-drug policies, legal systems, and probationary monitoring. Its advantage lies in detecting substance usage over a longer timeframe, generally up to 90 days, with observation during collection, making tampering very difficult. However, for detecting recent drug use, urine tests may still be preferable.

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly regarded as an effective resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The strands of hair offer a prolonged account of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the growing fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can furnish about a three-month period of detection for substances. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, made up of roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearest to the scalp provides about 100mg, which is optimal for testing. For EtG enhancements and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the hair sample. If scalp hair cannot be collected, a proportionate quantity of body hair may be used. The term head hair refers only to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory analysis for drug testing follows four critical steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first phase, where a sample is logged into a lab's system. It involves confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, issuing a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry if not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary swift check for substance misuse. Although it’s a resource-efficient method to identify drug use in most samples, a positive screening result must be verified for legal use. Any samples flagged as presumptive positives in Screening need additional confirmation.

If a Screening test indicates a presumptive positive, further hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. This step isolates drugs from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug analysis particularly challenging to execute.

Confirming any positive screening outcome is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before any confirmation, all presumptive positives undergo wash procedures as required. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

  • Extended detection span: Hair drug tests are able to identify drug usage for nearly 90 days, unlike urine tests that cover a shorter duration.
  • Hard to outsmart: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, thereby enhancing the accuracy of results.
  • Historic data provision: It offers a usage pattern over time, rather than just current use.

Limitations:

  • Inability to detect recent usage: Hair takes around 5-7 days before drugs become observable.
  • Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier than other testing methods.
  • Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual growth rates can influence metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand and not the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Howard, CO, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing by offering extensive detection capabilities. Its accuracy and reliability make it the preferred choice for rigorous drug use assessments. Unlike urine tests, it provides an impressive awareness of an individual's substance history.

Employers benefit from more credible results with hair analysis, minimizing the risk of employment with drug users.

Extended Detection Window

The benefit of hair follicle testing in Howard, CO, includes its extended detection window—covering up to 90 days of substance use history. This provides employers with a broad perspective on an individual's patterns of drug and alcohol consumption.

Employers have the opportunity to gauge applicants' drug history, making informed hiring decisions based on a comprehensive view of employee behavior.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the standout attributes in Howard, CO, of hair follicle testing is its resistance to tampering. This method significantly diminishes the potential for sample adulteration, ensuring that results remain trustworthy and credible.

Its inherent advantages cater to environments where maintaining integrity in drug testing is paramount, supporting the drive for accuracy.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Through our extensive network of testing locations, including in Howard, CO, obtaining a hair follicle test becomes convenient and straightforward. This wide-reaching presence ensures timely and efficient access to drug testing services, minimizing any disruptions to the daily routine.

Available nationwide, the process occurs seamlessly, accommodating even the busiest schedules.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Howard, CO, our approach to hair follicle drug testing emphasizes simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to result retrieval, the process is designed to be straightforward while respecting privacy and discretion. Customers can be assured of a worry-free and secure experience.

The service underscores ease, ensuring users embark on a stress-free journey to get their test results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive rates, our hair follicle testing in Howard, CO, provides excellent value, matched by quick turnaround times. Our pricing structure is designed to suit companies of all sizes, ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising the quality of service.

This approach ensures financial prudence while maintaining the integrity and speed employers need.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Howard, CO, is renowned for quick and precise assessments. Offering unrivaled accuracy, it can detect even low-level substance usage, furnishing timely and reliable results that ensure informed decisions for employers and individuals alike.

The method's precision is particularly significant, providing a degree of clarity previously unattainable with more conventional tests.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Howard, CO, hair follicle drug testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind. This method reduces legal exposure and bolsters safety, aligning with policies promoting a constructive and safe working environment.

Employers are reassured by the comprehensive nature of the results, reducing potential liabilities.

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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Frequently Asked Questions

A hair follicle drug test analyzes a small sample of hair to detect a history of drug use over time. Because drug metabolites are incorporated into hair as it grows, this method can show patterns of use instead of just recent exposure. It is frequently used for legal and court requirements, long-term monitoring, and high-trust workforce screening.
Standard hair drug testing typically reflects drug use over approximately a 90-day period, based on the length of hair collected at the time of testing. Longer hair can sometimes reflect a longer time frame, and extremely short hair can reduce that window.
Hair drug testing commonly screens for marijuana/THC, cocaine, opiates/opioids, amphetamines/methamphetamines, and PCP. In many cases, additional expanded panels may be requested to include other substances.
Yes. If the donor's head hair is too short or unavailable, body hair may be collected as an alternative. The collector will document the source of the sample. This allows testing even for individuals with recently cut or shaved head hair.
Yes. Hair drug testing is commonly used in court, probation, custody, and compliance matters because the collection process follows a documented chain of custody and the analysis is performed by a certified laboratory. Results are provided in a form that can be reviewed by legal and administrative authorities.
Yes. Individuals, parents, attorneys, employers, and probation programs can all request hair drug testing. A doctor's order is not required. Results are confidential and released only to the authorized requesting party.
Hair testing provides a longer look-back period than urine testing, making it useful when you need to demonstrate ongoing abstinence or identify repeated/recent substance use patterns over time rather than just recent exposure. It is frequently selected for legal, compliance, and custody-related documentation.
A small section of hair is cut by a trained collector in a discreet, controlled manner. The sample is sealed, documented, and sent to the laboratory under established chain-of-custody procedures so that the results can be defended if they are ever challenged.

Customer Reviews

Sweet and helpful

Trish was amazing and got me through the sytem very fast and swift. I had a hard time hearing her a couple of times, but she was super sweet and helpful throughout the process. Highly recommend her!

Sophia Schutze - 6/19/2024

Quick, knowledgeable and courteous

Quick, knowledgeable and courteous Janelle worked diligently to support me. I am recommending their services to anyone looking.

Greensboro Joseph - 11/19/2024

Very Fun and Easy

Trish last week and Tatiana this week, very fun and easy folks to deal with. Well be using them more and more in the future.

Tom O - 12/19/2024


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