Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pueblo West, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair serves as a historical record for substance use, capturing biomarkers in the strands of hair as they grow. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for substances. The collection of hair is straightforward, fairly resistant to tampering, and easily transportable.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair not be available, a comparable amount of body hair may be gathered. References to head hair are strictly about scalp hair. Body hair encapsulates all other types of hair (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing drug test results encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory's database. This includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid examination for drugs of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-effective method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal purposes. Any samples yielding a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

When a sample is preliminarily positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than with other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of a positive screening result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that are presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation, as needed. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated in line with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the approval under ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests detect over a shorter span.
• Challenge to deceive: It is challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, thus ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical pattern: It offers a record of drug usage over time, rather than merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Undetectable recent usage: Drugs take approximately 5-7 days to be detectable within hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur more costs than alternative methods of drug testing.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Pueblo West, CO
Hair follicle testing offers notable advantages over urine tests. It provides superior detection accuracy and reliability, making it preferred in many cases.

• Extended detection period up to 90 days
• Observed collection process enhances accuracy
• Resistance to cheating and tampering

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Pueblo West, CO
Hair follicle tests offer a comprehensive detection window up to 90 days, enabling employers to better understand an individual's substance use history over time.

• Detects long-term substance patterns
• Provides a broad view of drug use
• Informs safer hiring decisions

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Pueblo West, CO
Hair follicle tests significantly minimize the risk of sample tampering, ensuring test reliability and integrity.

• Reduces sample adulteration risk
• Provides unquestionable results
• Enhances trust in testing outcomes

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Pueblo West, CO
Access to testing services is easy with our widespread centers, making the process seamless and stress-free.

• Widespread testing locations
• Convenient access for individuals and companies
• Ensures quick and hassle-free testing

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Pueblo West, CO
The process of ordering, testing, and receiving results is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively.

• Hassle-free ordering process
• Confidential handling of information
• Ensures privacy and ease of use

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Pueblo West, CO
Our competitive pricing and quick result turnaround times offer excellent value and comfort for businesses of all scales.

• Cost-effective pricing solutions
• Rapid result delivery
• Exceptional value for all business sizes

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Pueblo West, CO
Hair follicle drug tests in Pueblo West offer quick and precise results. They excel in providing highly accurate data on substance use, making them a valuable tool for those needing reliable testing outcomes.

• Precision in substance detection
• Speedy turnaround for results
• High accuracy in identifying long-term use

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Pueblo West, CO
Implementing hair follicle testing aligns with workplace drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks and enhancing safety.

• Ensures compliance with regulations
• Reduces organizational liabilities
• Bolsters a secure work environment

Drug Testing Near Pueblo West, CO

Greenwood, CO

Wetmore, CO

Penrose, CO

Penrose-Portland, CO

Vineland, CO

Wigwam, CO

St. Charles Mesa, CO

Stone City, CO

Blende, CO

Salt Creek, CO

Pueblo, CO

Wild Horse, 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.

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