Hair Follicle Drug Testing - San Acacio, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying alcohol and drug use. It offers a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs, capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. Located near the scalp, hair samples can deliver up to a 3-month detection window for substances like alcohol. Additionally, hair is easy to collect, resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprised of around 200 strands (equal to the thickness of a #2 pencil), will weigh about 100mg, which is the perfect amount for screening and validation. For EtG, added tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is preferred. We suggest weighing the hair on a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes other types like facial or arm hair.

Process Overview

Processing a drug test in a lab involves four core stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the sample’s entry into the lab system. This involves checking if it was sealed and shipped suitably, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data that is not provided by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening offers a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. While it's a cost-effective screening method, any positive results must be confirmed for legal acceptance. Samples that test positive initially require further Confirmation.

When Screening indicates a positive result, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for further processing. During Extraction, drugs are removed from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods like urine or saliva, making hair drug testing particularly challenging to perform.

Any positive findings from Screening undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All confirmed positive samples are cleaned as necessary before final Confirmation. The comprehensive lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is rigorously reviewed under the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify usage for up to 90 days, offering a wider window than urine tests.
• Hard to evade: Hair testing is difficult to falsify, ensuring more reliable results.
• Chronological data: It depicts a timeline of drug consumption over periods, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to catch recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair tests tend to be more costly than other testing forms.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and growth rate can influence drug metabolite concentration.

Note: Despite being labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is of the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Choose Hair Follicle Testing in San Acacio, CO?

When comparing to traditional urine tests, hair testing distinguishes itself with superior reliability and accuracy. Hair tests identify substance use over extended periods, offering a clearer picture of an individual's history.

• Superior detection over urine tests.
• Ideal for establishing long-term usage patterns.
• More difficult to alter results, ensuring accuracy.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Period in San Acacio, CO

Hair follicle tests offer a substantial 90-day detection window for drug use, way surpassing the scope of urine tests. This provides employers a thorough understanding of a candidate's history.

• Provide an overview of past three months.
• Reliable for long-term analysis.
• Enhance decision-making in hiring processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Non-manipulatable Testing in San Acacio, CO

Hair follicle drug tests offer a highly tamper-resistant method, ensuring credible results. Unlike other methods, the risk of sample adulteration is significantly minimized.

• Difficult to falsify or adulterate results.
• Preserves the authenticity of the sample.
• Boosts confidence in test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Locations Across the Nation and Locally in San Acacio, CO

Our extensive network of testing centers ensures that obtaining a test is both straightforward and just a step away. Experience hassle-free testing in numerous locations.

• Nationwide and local centers.
• Seamless and easy testing experience.
• Rapid access to necessary services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Streamlined, Private Testing Process in San Acacio, CO

The straightforward and confidential nature of our hair follicle testing process guarantees privacy at every stage, from ordering to receiving results.

• User-friendly process.
• Privacy ensured at each step.
• Direct access to results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective and Prompt Services in San Acacio, CO

Our competitive pricing paired with swift result turnaround makes hair follicle testing an attractive option for businesses large and small.

• Affordable cost structures.
• Quick return of test outcomes.
• Excellent value offered.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In San Acacio, CO, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their rapid and precise outcomes. Boasting high accuracy, these tests effectively confirm substance use, ensuring reliable results.

• The meticulous technique allows for comprehensive substance detection.
• Fast results ensure timely decision-making for employers.
• Trusted by professionals for its dependable detection capabilities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Safety for Employers in San Acacio, CO

Implementing hair follicle testing aids employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing potential legal concerns and enhancing overall safety.

• Aligns with zero-tolerance policies.
• Promotes a safer working environment.
• Reduces liability risks.

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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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