Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Somerset, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair examination is now recognized as an effective mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can encapsulate a prolonged history of alcohol and narcotics by embedding biomarkers within its growing strands. When obtained near the scalp, hair may offer up to a nearly three-month detection timeframe for alcohol and various drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion comprising approximately 200 hair strands (approximately equivalent to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, deemed the perfect specimen for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional panels, or panels exceeding ten, 150mg of the hair sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar volume of body hair is accepted. 'Head hair' refers exclusively to scalp hair. 'Body hair' encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The process in the laboratory for handling a drug test result encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s setup. This stage includes affirming that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid inspection for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient means to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen demands verification to be court-admissible. Samples yielding a presumptive positive result during Screening need secondary confirmation.

If a sample yields a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at a much reduced concentration than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of performing hair drug screening.

Verification of any positive Screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Each presumptive positive sample undergoes washing before verification if required. The entire lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and accredited following ISO / IEC 17025 norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests detect substance use up to 90 days, compared to urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Resistant to evasion: It is extremely hard to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Chronological data: It can show a pattern of drug consumption over time, not merely current usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are usually pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Variabilities such as hair color and individual hair growth patterns can affect the level of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", these tests actually analyze the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Somerset, CO, hair follicle testing outshines urine tests due to its superior accuracy. This method ensures detection reliability, offering peace of mind to employers.

Unlike traditional urine screening, hair tests provide a clearer picture of substance use. Their dependable detection methods ensure precision in results.

Employers prefer hair follicle tests over urine in Somerset, CO, as they offer enhanced detection capabilities, minimizing the chance of misinterpretation or false outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Somerset, CO allows for drug use detection spanning a 90-day period, offering an extensive look into substance habits.

Employers in Somerset, CO benefit from hair testing's prolonged detection window, gaining deep insights into an applicant's past drug usage.

With a 90-day history accessible via hair testing, employers in Somerset, CO can make informed decisions based on comprehensive substance use data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

By choosing hair follicle testing in Somerset, CO, the risk of sample tampering is significantly minimized, ensuring result integrity.

Hair tests are lauded for reducing adulteration threats, providing Somerset, CO, with trust in reliable and accurate testing results.

Employers in Somerset, CO favor hair follicle analysis as it diminishes sample tampering possibilities, offering clear and unfalsifiable data.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With multiple testing centers nationwide, Somerset, CO residents have seamless access to swift hair testing services.

Our far-reaching network ensures quick, efficient testing for residents of Somerset, CO, easing the testing process.

Convenience in Somerset, CO is elevated with multiple accessible testing centers, enabling hassle-free hair analysis services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Somerset, CO is designed for simplicity and privacy, ensuring easy scheduling, testing, and result reception for hair tests.

Experience a straightforward, confidential approach in Somerset, CO, reassuring clients of personal data privacy and a smooth testing journey.

In Somerset, CO, our secure and simple testing process offers peace of mind with confidential handling from order to result.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hair follicle testing in Somerset, CO combines affordability with rapid turnover, offering value to businesses with diverse budgets.

We provide competitive pricing and swift results for hair testing in Somerset, CO, ensuring businesses get both economical and quick services.

Cost-effective hair testing, paired with fast result delivery in Somerset, CO, secures superb value for businesses of all scales.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

With a focus on accuracy and swiftness, hair follicle drug tests in Somerset, CO offer reliable detection of substance use. Their precision is unmatched, ensuring confident results.

The efficiency of hair testing lies in its ability to accurately identify substance traces. This method guarantees prompt test outcomes, showcasing substantial reliability.

Hair follicle assessments have proven their worth with fast and precise results, making them a staple for detecting drug intake efficiently in Somerset, CO.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing ensures Somerset, CO employers remain in compliance with zero-tolerance policies, reducing legal liabilities with tested accuracy.

Employers in Somerset, CO gain peace of mind through hair testing, ensuring a safe, compliant, and drug-free work environment.

The use of hair follicle analysis in Somerset, CO supports employer compliance with drug regulations, promoting a risk-free workplace.

Drug Testing Near Somerset, CO

Collbran, CO

Gunnison, CO

Orchard City, CO

Grand Mesa, CO

Mount Crested Butte, CO

Crested Butte, CO

Cedaredge, CO

Twin Lakes, CO

Redstone, CO

Delta, CO

Lazear, CO

Crawford, CO

Hotchkiss, CO

Paonia, CO

Bowie, 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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