Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Irondale, CO

What it is, How it works

The analysis of hair has gained recognition as an effective means for detecting alcohol and drug usage. Hair stores a prolonged history of substances by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly 3-month period for detecting drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample size of 1.5 inches, approximately 200 strands of hair (similar to a #2 pencil in thickness) nearest the scalp, yields 100mg, which is optimal for testing. For EtG, additional panels, or testing above 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. Measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale is advisable. In cases where scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. Reference to head hair solely pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug tests involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the introductory step involving the incorporation of a sample into the laboratory’s system. It entails ensuring the sample's seal and shipment were intact, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any pending data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs. Though cost-efficient in excluding drug presence in most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples with a presumptive positive during Screening require further confirmation.

If the Screening stage yields a presumptive positive, additional hair is taken from the original sample to prepare for Extraction. This step involves retrieving drugs from hair at concentrations lower than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), positioning hair drug screening as the most challenging technique.

Confirmation of any positive results during screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are washed as necessary prior to confirmation. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection span.
• Tamper resistance: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical data provision: It allows for tracking drug usage patterns over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: There’s a 5-7 day timeline before drugs are traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing approaches.
• Result variability: Variances such as hair color and individual growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis pertains to hair strands and not the follicles beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair testing stands out in Irondale, CO, due to its superior detection capabilities compared to urine tests. Accuracy in detecting a range of substances is heightened with hair tests, making it a preferred choice for employers and legal entities who need dependable results.

• Superior Detection: Hair tests can uncover substance use over an extended period.
• Increased Reliability: Compared to traditional urine tests, hair testing reduces the risk of sample tampering.

Extended Detection Window

In Irondale, CO, the advantage of hair follicle testing lies in its extended detection window. Unlike more conventional testing methods, hair tests can identify drug use history for up to 90 days, providing a comprehensive look at an individual's substance use history.

• Longer Detection: Employers receive a more complete view of an applicant's drug use history.
• Comprehensive Substance History: The extended window helps uncover long-term drug habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

With hair follicle tests, the risk of sample adulteration is significantly minimized in Irondale, CO. This testing method is tamper-resistant, ensuring that the results are trustworthy and unquestionable.

• Unquestionable Results: The integrity of the sample is maintained, providing reliable outcomes.
• Security in Testing: The process is designed to resist manipulation, securing authenticity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Irondale, CO, the accessibility of our testing services is unparalleled due to our convenient nationwide testing centers. These facilities provide an easy and hassle-free process for individuals requiring drug testing.

• Accessibility: Local and nationwide centers offer expedient testing services.
• Convenience: Easy access ensures that testing needs are met swiftly and efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Irondale, CO, is straightforward and confidential, addressing concerns about privacy. This simple process ensures that individuals can easily order, complete, and receive their results without issues.

• Confidentiality Ensured: Protecting individual privacy is a priority.
• Simplicity in Testing: The process is designed to be user-friendly and stress-free.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our pricing structures in Irondale, CO, are competitive, making hair follicle testing a cost-effective choice. With affordable pricing and prompt turnaround times, companies of all sizes benefit from excellent value without compromising on accuracy or speed.

• Competitive Pricing: We offer cost-efficient solutions for drug testing needs.
• Fast Turnaround: Results are delivered quickly, ensuring minimal wait times.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The quickness and precision of hair follicle drug tests make them an excellent choice in Irondale, CO. Hair tests are renowned for their high detection accuracy concerning substance use, providing reliable results that are critical for employers and individuals alike.

• Hair follicle tests offer fast and accurate results, ensuring that the process is efficient.
• The reliability of these tests is unparalleled, reducing the chance of errors in detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Irondale, CO, adopting hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies, offering peace of mind. It enhances safety and minimizes legal risks associated with drug use in the workplace.

• Compliance Assurance: Hair testing contributes to maintaining a drug-free work environment.
• Safety Enhancement: Employers benefit from safer workplaces due to accurate drug detection.

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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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