Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Morgan Heights, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a historical record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When obtained close to the scalp, it can reveal drug and alcohol use over a span of up to three months. Hair is straightforward to gather, fairly resistant to tampering, and convenient for transportation.

A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg, suitable for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG, additional assessments, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be collected, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, it pertains exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial sample entry into a lab’s system. This step verifies that the sample is sealed and sent correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplemental data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drug use. While it’s an economical method to dismiss drug consumption in the majority of cases, any positive Screening requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples testing positive in Screening need further verification.

Should a sample test positive during Screening, additional hair is prepared from the original specimen for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a reduced concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing especially challenging to execute.

Positive Screening results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples are washed prior to Confirmation when necessary. The laboratory process from Accessioning through Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair categorization and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can uncover drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceptionally challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It provides a use pattern over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is a misnomer as the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Morgan Heights, CO, hair follicle testing is increasingly recognized for its superior advantages over traditional urine testing. Hair tests exhibit advanced detection accuracy and reliability, making them a prime choice among various testing methodologies.

While urine tests are limited in their detection window, hair tests offer enhanced accuracy, making it possible to uncover drug use history over a more extensive timeframe, thereby proving more efficient in various testing scenarios.

Extended Detection Window

One major advantage of hair follicle drug testing in Morgan Heights, CO, is its extended detection window. Unlike traditional tests, hair tests provide a thorough view of a person's substance use for up to 90 days, offering employers detailed insights into an individual's drug use history.

This broader detection period ensures that employers can make informed decisions based on comprehensive substance use patterns rather than the limited snapshot provided by other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Morgan Heights, CO, hair follicle testing is hailed for its resistance to tampering. The testing process significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, delivering results that are both reliable and unimpeachable.

This integrity ensures that the outcomes of hair tests maintain high validity, thus minimizing the likelihood of false negatives or positives and enhancing trust in the results obtained.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers nationwide, including those in Morgan Heights, CO, obtaining hair follicle testing services is both convenient and accessible. This extensive network ensures quick and hassle-free access to necessary testing locations.

Whether local or out-of-state, individuals and companies alike can benefit from prompt service delivery, ensuring ease and comfort in undergoing required drug testing procedures without delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Morgan Heights, CO, for hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease. From ordering to collecting samples and receiving results, each step is designed with simplicity and discretion in mind.

This secure process alleviates privacy concerns, offering participants the assurance that their personal information is handled with utmost care throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our services in Morgan Heights, CO, present competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, affirming affordability alongside high-quality service delivery. Businesses of any size can benefit from reasonable rates combined with prompt response times.

With the emphasis on providing excellent value, companies can rest assured that they are investing in reliable and cost-effective testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Morgan Heights, CO, hair follicle drug tests are known for their precision and speed, providing fast and accurate detection of substance use. With their ability to identify the presence of drugs effectively, these tests ensure reliable outcomes that employers and individuals can trust.

Through innovation and advanced technology, hair follicle tests offer results that are not only fast but greatly dependable, giving individuals and companies peace of mind knowing the results are both precise and swift.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Morgan Heights, CO, grants employers compliance with drug-free workplace policies, significantly diminishing legal liabilities while promoting safety and order in the work environment.

By integrating this method into regular protocols, companies not only adhere to legal standards but also ensure a secure and productive workplace where employees can perform at their best.

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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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