Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lyons, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying substance use. Hair captures a longitudinal record of drug and alcohol consumption by incorporating biomarkers within the hair strands. When cut near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use information for up to three months. It's easy to obtain, relatively tamper-resistant, and straightforward to mail.

An ideal test sample consists of a 1.5-inch section with approximately 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from nearest the scalp, yielding 100mg of hair. For EtG, supplemental items, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferable. It's advisable to use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the hair. In the absence of scalp hair, equivalent body hair can be collected. "Head hair" denotes only scalp hair, while "body hair" refers to any other types like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

Drug test result processing involves Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase, entering a sample into the lab system, verifying its seal and shipping integrity, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides a preliminary examination for drug presence. While it efficiently dismisses drug use in many samples, positive results require further verification for legal acceptability. Presumptive positives in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

For presumptive positives in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the sample for further analysis. In Extraction, drugs are separated from hair in smaller concentrations than other methods (like urine or saliva), hence why hair drug analysis is notably challenging.

Positive Screening confirmations utilize GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before confirmation, presumptive positive samples undergo a washing process as needed. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and accredited by ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter time frame of urine tests.
• Resistance to tampering: Hair drug exams are hard to manipulate, ensuring accurate outcomes.
• Chronological usage insight: They deliver a comprehensive record of drug habits over time, rather than just recent intake.

Drawbacks:

• Non-detection of recent use: Detection in hair requires approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Higher costs: Hair drug tests are typically pricier when compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth rates can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", these exams analyze the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lyons, CO, the debate between hair follicle and urine testing sees hair testing leading the pack. Its superior detection capabilities ensure accurate results over traditional urine tests.

Hair tests, unlike urine samples, offer longer detection windows, ensuring minimal errors and more reliability. Their unbeatable detection accuracy offers confidence and reliability.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Lyons, CO reveals a vast substance history. By scanning up to 90 days of drug use, employers gain a detailed view of applicant histories.

This extended window is unmatched by other tests, showcasing a comprehensive look into potential employees' drug consumption, aiding in thorough evaluations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Lyons, CO, hair follicle tests champion integrity through their tamper-resistant nature. The method arms employers with trusted results that resist adulteration.

With minimal risk of tampering and high assurance of accurate results, hair testing ensures a dependable evaluation process for all stakeholders.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our Lyons, CO locations ensure convenient access to drug testing services. With a nationwide presence, our centers provide hassle-free and quick testing solutions for all.

The extensive network of testing sites simplifies the experience, guaranteeing users easy access anytime, anywhere with minimal hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lyons, CO, our hair follicle testing process prioritizes simplicity and confidentiality, ensuring ease from ordering to result receipt.

Providing a user-friendly and private approach, this process ensures comfort for all users, reflecting our commitment to efficiency and discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our pricing in Lyons, CO is competitive, paired with swift turnaround times, presenting excellent value for businesses large and small.

Emphasizing affordability and rapid results, our testing services cater to a wide audience, delivering quality without breaking the bank.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle testing set it apart. Offering fast, reliable results, this method stands out for its high accuracy in detecting substances, ensuring informed decisions in Lyons, CO.

Unmatched in accuracy, hair tests capture substance use details swiftly and accurately. This swift turnaround time ensures employers and individuals receive trustworthy insights promptly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Lyons, CO gain peace of mind with hair testing's compliance assurance. Aligning with drug-free workplace policies, it diminishes legal risks.

Through this method, enhancing safety and compliance in workplaces becomes straightforward, safeguarding against policy violations effectively.

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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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