Hair Follicle Drug Testing - San Antonio, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying substance use, encompassing drugs and alcohol. The hair strands capture and retain markers over time within their fibers, offering an extended historical record of substance exposure. Sampling hair close to the scalp grants a drug and alcohol detection capability of up to three months. Collecting hair samples is straightforward, with a reduced risk of tampering, and facilitates easy transportation.

A snippet of 1.5 inches, comprising roughly 200 hairs (comparable to a #2 pencil's diameter) positioned nearest to the scalp, equates to 100mg of hair, which is optimal for analysis and verification purposes. For EtG assays, supplementary tests, or analyses extending beyond ten substances, a 150mg quantity is advocated. Utilizing a jeweler's scale to measure the sample is suggested. Should scalp hair be absent, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. The term 'head hair' exclusively refers to scalp hair, while 'body hair' encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of four crucial phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary phase where a sample is incorporated into the laboratory's system. It involves ensuring proper sealing and shipment of the sample, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any outstanding data input absent from an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening performs an initial, rapid assessment for drug presence. Though Screening offers a cost-efficient method to exclude drug intake in most cases, a positive screen must be verified for legal acceptability. Those samples yielding a presumptive positive during Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

Upon detecting a presumptive positive during Screening, further hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. This involves isolating drugs from hair at markedly reduced concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or saliva), which is why hair drug analysis is notably complex.

The Confirmation phase for any positive screening findings employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. Presumptive positive samples undergo a washing process prior to confirmation, as required. The complete laboratory testing procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes evaluation under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation, alongside compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair testing can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, offering a longer window than urine tests, which detect over a shorter timespan.
• Anti-tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Patterns of use: Hair tests can illustrate an extended timeline of drug usage, rather than mere recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lack of immediacy: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days post-use.
• Expensive: Generally, hair drug testing costs exceed those of alternate testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal differences in hair growth may influence the concentration of drug residues in hair.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", these evaluations scrutinize the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in San Antonio, CO
Hair follicle testing offers superior detection compared to traditional urine tests. The main benefit is its extended detection window, capturing substance use up to 90 days back, unlike urine which has a shorter detection period. Additionally, hair tests are nearly impossible to tamper with, ensuring reliable results.

Extended Detection Window

The Extended Detection Window of hair follicle testing in San Antonio, CO, is a standout feature for employers seeking a comprehensive analysis of substance use history. This testing can detect drug usage from up to 90 days prior, offering insight into long-term patterns, which is invaluable for applicant and employee assessments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-resistant Testing Method in San Antonio, CO, showcases the security of hair follicle tests. Unlike other methods, hair testing significantly minimizes the risk of adulteration. This resistance to tampering means results are unquestionably reliable, providing peace of mind and confidence in the testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and local options in San Antonio, CO, accessing hair follicle testing services is hassle-free. Our broader network ensures testing accessibility wherever needed, providing a streamlined approach to drug testing that is both quick and easy for all involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

In San Antonio, CO, our Simple, Confidential Process for hair follicle testing makes the experience stress-free. The straightforward procedures from ordering to receiving results assure privacy and user accessibility, addressing any confidentiality concerns head-on and emphasizing ease of use throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in San Antonio, CO, our hair follicle testing offers remarkable value. Our competitive pricing structures combined with short processing times guarantee excellent service to companies of all sizes, allowing for financial efficiency alongside rapid delivery of reliable results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In San Antonio, CO, obtaining fast, accurate, and reliable results from hair follicle drug tests is a significant advantage. These tests are renowned for their high precision in identifying substance use, providing results swiftly and efficiently.
Precision and Speed in these tests ensure that anyone requiring substantiation for drug use gets data that is rich in accuracy and delivered expediently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in San Antonio, CO, provides Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers. Ensuring alignment with drug-free workplace policies reduces legal liabilities and enhances workplace safety. Employers can trust the thoroughness and reliability of this testing method in maintaining compliance and fostering a secure work environment.

Drug Testing Near San Antonio, CO

San Pedro, 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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