Hair Follicle Drug Testing - South Jefferson, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. Collecting hair near the scalp offers about a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If head hair is unavailable, the equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary handling of a sample into a laboratory system. This step involves confirming that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening constitutes an initial rapid check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be court-admissible. Any samples yielding presumptive positives in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is drawn from the original specimen and processed for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug screening as the most demanding methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a more limited detection window.
• Challenging to deceive: It is exceptionally challenging to cheat a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insights: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Approximately 5-7 days are required for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand, not the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in South Jefferson, CO
Hair testing offers a superior alternative to urine tests, showcasing enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional tests, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection period for past substance use, making it a preferred choice for many entities in South Jefferson that demand thorough and dependable drug screening results.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in South Jefferson, CO
Hair follicle tests offer a significant advantage through their extended detection window, capturing drug use over a 90-day period. This duration allows employers to gain a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use history, aiding informed decision-making in hiring or employment continuity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in South Jefferson, CO
Hair follicle testing is highly resistant to tampering, significantly lowering the chances of sample adulteration. This ensures that the results provided are both reliable and unequivocal, reinforcing the integrity of drug testing processes in South Jefferson and enhancing trust in the results delivered.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in South Jefferson, CO
Our widespread network of testing centers offers convenient access to services, making the process quick and hassle-free. With locations throughout the country, including South Jefferson, individuals and businesses can efficiently arrange for hair follicle testing without delay or complication.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in South Jefferson, CO
Ordering, undertaking, and receiving results through hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential. The process focuses on privacy and ease of use, ensuring that individuals can proceed with confidence, fully aware that their personal information remains protected at all times during testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in South Jefferson, CO
With competitive pricing structures and rapid turnaround times, hair follicle testing provides excellent value for businesses irrespective of size. In South Jefferson, companies benefit from cost-effective solutions that do not compromise on quality or delivery speed, allowing them to confidently plan and execute their drug testing strategies.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in South Jefferson, CO
The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests set them apart in drug detection. These tests are renowned for their high accuracy and effectiveness, ensuring that substance use is correctly identified and reported. Results are delivered promptly, offering speedy solutions for individuals and organizations alike in South Jefferson.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in South Jefferson, CO
Employers can maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies through hair follicle testing, minimizing legal risks and promoting a safer work environment. This testing method reassures organizations in South Jefferson of their commitment to a drug-free culture, contributing to peace of mind among employees and management.

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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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