Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Twin Lakes, CO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair strands capture long-term data by embedding biomarkers within the growing strands. When acquired from near the scalp, the hair can indicate drug and alcohol presence for up to three months. The hair collection process is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A sample consisting of 200 strands of hair measuring 1.5 inches (equivalent to the circumference of a #2 pencil) near the scalp ensures a 100mg weight, which is optimal for testing and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's best to weigh the hair on a jeweler’s scale. In cases of non-availability of head hair, a similar amount of body hair is acceptable. This context of head hair refers strictly to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses facial, axillary, and other types.

Process Overview

The laboratory drug test processing includes four central phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially integrated into the laboratory system. This step involves the validation of proper sealing and shipping, allocation of a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfillment of any manual data not captured by an electronic custody system.

Screening performs a preliminary check for drug presence. It is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug presence in most samples, though a positive screen requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

Samples appearing positive in Screening undergo further processing in Extraction by obtaining additional hair from the original sample. This phase extracts drugs at lower concentrations than other methods such as urine or saliva tests, highlighting the complexity of hair drug analysis.

For any positive results from screening, Confirmation is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and accredited by ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests identify drug use over 90 days, surpassing urine tests with shorter detection limits.
• Hard to falsify: Hair drug analysis provides more reliable results due to the difficulty in tampering.
• Displays historical usage: Reveals drug habits over time, unlike tests that only show recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become evident in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expenses: Hair drug testing is usually pricier than other testing techniques.
• Result variations: Differences such as hair color and growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Often mistakenly called "hair follicle tests", this procedure examines the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle tests consistently outperform urine tests in terms of reliability and precision. In Twin Lakes, CO, these tests are the preferred choice due to their enhanced accuracy over traditional urine tests, offering certainty and peace of mind.

One of the key benefits is the ability of hair testing to uncover long-term drug use history, unlike urine tests which detect recent use. This leads to better-informed decisions for employers and agencies relying on thorough background checks.

Extended Detection Window

In Twin Lakes, CO, hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage with its extended detection window. By covering up to 90 days of substance use history, it provides employers a complete and chronological perspective on an individual's substance habits.

This extensive window allows employers to assess patterns of use that urine tests might miss. With such detailed insight, companies can make more informed employment and disciplinary decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests are praised in Twin Lakes, CO, for their tamper-resistant nature. By virtually eliminating the risk of sample tampering, they ensure credibility and eliminate doubts about the authenticity of test results.

The integrity of hair testing stems from its robust collection methods and rigorous processing. This guarantees that the results are accurate and trustworthy, giving organizations the reliability they need for their drug testing requirements.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of extensive testing sites across the nation, including Twin Lakes, CO, ensures easy and hassle-free access to our services. These locations are strategically placed, minimizing disruptions to your schedule.

Whether you're seeking testing locally or nationwide, our locations are equipped with the latest facilities to offer comprehensive hair follicle tests. This widespread availability underscores our commitment to accessibility and client convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Hair follicle testing in Twin Lakes, CO, offers a straightforward and confidential process. From ordering tests to receiving results, our system is designed with privacy and ease in mind, addressing any concerns about confidentiality.

The simplicity of our procedures means that individuals and organizations alike benefit from a seamless experience. Such an approach minimizes stress and expedites the entire testing process, ensuring efficiency and discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Twin Lakes, CO, our hair follicle drug testing services offer competitive pricing and rapid processing times. This makes us an economical choice for businesses of varying sizes looking for accurate testing without budget concerns.

Affordable pricing coupled with quick turnaround times ensures that you receive excellent value. This combination empowers businesses to maintain safety standards while respecting financial constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Twin Lakes, CO, deliver fast, precise results, thanks to their advanced technology. They excel in identifying recent and past substance use with a remarkable accuracy that ensures reliable reporting.

Compared to other methods, the speed of result generation in hair testing stands out. With its high efficiency, it swiftly informs decision-making processes, allowing individuals and organizations to act quickly based on conclusive data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Twin Lakes, CO, utilizing hair follicle tests aligns with drug-free workplace policies. By adopting these tests, companies enhance safety, reduce legal exposure, and ensure regulatory compliance.

The peace of mind that comes from using hair follicle testing is invaluable. Knowing that you're adhering to the best practices in drug testing helps maintain workplace integrity and fortifies the company's standing against potential liabilities.

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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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