Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Carson, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a protracted timeline of alcohol and drug use by trapping biomarkers within its growing fibers. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal usage for approximately a 3-month timeframe for alcohol and other substances. The collection process for hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and it is easy to send.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 strands (about the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is advised. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses any other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample in a lab's system. This process confirms that the sample was appropriately sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid evaluation for substance abuse. While Screening is cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples testing positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is deemed positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug exams.

Confirmation of any positive screen is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is systematically evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which cover a brief timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: It can showcase a drug use pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot trace recent use: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair can vary due to factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis concentrates on the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in West Carson, CA
In comparing hair follicle tests to traditional urine testing, hair samples provide superior detection for long-term substance use. This reliability and accuracy make hair testing preferred for detailed drug monitoring.

• Superior detection accuracy
• Extended monitoring periods
• Preferred choice for zero-tolerance policies

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in West Carson, CA
Hair tests provide a comprehensive view of drug use history, detecting substance exposure for up to 90 days. This extensive window offers employers detailed insights into an individual's substance habits.

• Up to 90 days of detection
• Comprehensive substance history overview
• Informed decision-making for employers

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in West Carson, CA
Hair follicle testing reduces the risk of sample tampering, offering results that are both reliable and free from manipulation. This method ensures accuracy in evaluating substance use.

• Minimized risk of sample adulteration
• High reliability in test results
• Secure and faithful assessment of drug use

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in West Carson, CA
Our drug testing centers are conveniently located nationwide, including West Carson, CA, allowing for easy and quick access to reliable testing services.

• Nationwide coverage for testing
• Quick and easy access to services
• No hassle testing experience

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in West Carson, CA
Our hair testing process is straightforward and respects privacy. From ordering to receiving results, the entire procedure ensures confidentiality, catering to user concerns efficiently.

• Easy ordering process
• Confidential handling of tests
• Privacy respected throughout

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in West Carson, CA
Enjoy competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times with our hair follicle testing services. We offer excellent value for businesses of all sizes seeking quick and reliable results.

• Competitive pricing structures
• Fast result processing
• Value-conscious solutions for companies

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in West Carson, CA
Hair follicle drug tests deliver precise and swift results. The accuracy in detecting substances is unmatched, ensuring trusted outcomes for employers seeking dependable employee assessments.

• High precision in substance detection
• Quick processing time
• Reliable assessments for workplace safety

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in West Carson, CA
Employers benefit from hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing approach lowers legal risks and promotes a safer work environment.

• Ensures policy compliance
• Reduces potential legal issues
• Enhances safety and trust in the workplace

Drug Testing Near West Carson, CA

Lawndale, CA

Rolling Hills Estates, CA

Alondra Park, CA

West Rancho Dominguez, CA

West Compton, CA

Gardena, CA

Dominguez, CA

Lake Los Angeles, CA

Lomita, CA

Torrance, CA

Carson, CA

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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