Hair testing is a powerful tool for the detection of drug and alcohol abuse. Hair provides a long-term history of drug and alcohol abuse by trapping biomarkers in the keratin fibers of the growing hair strand.
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HAIR DRUG & ALCOHOL TESTING
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Hair testing, also known as hair follicle testing, presents many advantages over other types of drug and alcohol testing; however, it’s essential to recognize its strengths and limitations. For example, darker coarse hair will hold onto drug and alcohol metabolites longer than blonde or red hair. In instances where bleached hair, permed hair, or any other chemical alterations of the hair are suspected, an alternate specimen, like nails and/ or PEth test may be considered to ensure a valid result.
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HAIR TESTING FOR ALCOHOL & DRUGS OF ABUSE
Hair provides a test sample that is simple to collect, moderately difficult to adulterate and easy to ship and store. A 1.5-inch sample of approximately 200 strands, collected from the scalp, can, for most drugs, provide up to a 3 month drug history. When scalp hair is not available, an equal volume of body hair may be collected for testing. (Body hair has a significantly different window of detection, up to 12 months). Most drugs appear in scalp hair 1-7 days after ingestion, and peak concentrations occur about two weeks after. Urine, on the other hand, for a drug like cocaine, only yields about 2-3 days of prior drug exposure history.
Turn-around time to receive results for hair & nail testing is 4-7 business days
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EXPOSURE VS. INGESTION
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When drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine and crack cocaine are smoked in the home, drug residue can be deposited on, and incorporated into, the hair shaft. ChildGuard Hair Testing can differentiate between ingestion and exposure to these substances.
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ETG TESTING IN HAIR
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ETG (Ethyl Glucuronide) can be added to any hair drug test panel.
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Hair testing can be completed in our office locally in Greenwood Village, CO. Walk in's welcome. No appointment necessary. If outside the Denver Metro area, please contact us and we can arrange for an alternate collection site.
5280 Drug Testing provides Hair Drug and Alcohol Testing in Denver, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Littleton, Centennial, Castle Rock & South Denver.