Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Alton, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a potent resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When extracted from the area near the scalp, hair can offer about a 3-month detection span for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample for analysis and corroboration. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, a comparable amount of body hair can be gathered. When addressing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the preliminary handling of a sample into a lab’s workflow. This involves confirming that the sample was sealed and dispatched appropriately, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening comprises an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be valid in a legal setting. Any samples that are provisionally positive in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

If a sample is presumably positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is drawn from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and accreditations to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests that have a limited detection span.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is particularly tough, making the results more reliable.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal a pattern of drug consumption over a duration, and not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be more costly than other drug testing techniques.
• Diversity in results: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth might influence the drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Alton, LA
In Alton, LA, hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy. Employers and authorities benefit from its reliability, greatly enhancing substance use monitoring.

When compared to conventional urine tests, hair testing provides an extensive analysis of drug use, significantly reducing the chance of evading detection. Its precision and thoroughness make it the preferred choice for many institutions.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Alton, LA
The extensive detection window of hair testing, up to 90 days, offers employers in Alton, LA a thorough understanding of an individual's drug history. This longer timeframe provides a complete view of substance use, essential for making informed employment decisions.

Employers gain meaningful insights into an applicant or employee's substance use behaviors, aiding in maintaining a safe and productive work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Alton, LA
Hair follicle testing is a highly tamper-resistant method in Alton, LA, considerably lowering the chances of sample adulteration. This provides reliability and unquestionable results that are crucial for sensitive investigations.

The integrity of hair testing ensures that the results are dependable, offering a foolproof mechanism against any attempt to distort the outcome, unlike other testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Alton, LA
Our nationwide network of testing centers, including those in Alton, LA, ensures rapid, straightforward, and convenient access to drug testing services, eliminating hassle.

Through our strategically located facilities, you can quickly find a center nearby, underscoring our commitment to offer accessible and efficient testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Alton, LA
In Alton, LA, our drug testing process is designed to be simple and confidential from ordering to receiving results, prioritizing privacy and user ease.

Our discreet approach ensures that users feel secure and assured throughout the testing procedure, granting peace of mind during what is often a stressful situation.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Alton, LA
Our competitive pricing models and swift turnaround in Alton, LA provide excellent value and assurance for businesses of various sizes.

Despite our rapid delivery of drug test results, we remain committed to affordability, making sure that quality does not transcend budget considerations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Alton, LA
Hair follicle drug tests in Alton, LA are renowned for their precision and swift results. These tests offer exceptional accuracy in detecting substance use, providing trustworthy insights into an individual's drug history.

With our cutting-edge technology and experienced professionals, hair follicle testing offers unmatched reliability. The results are not only quick but also highly precise, granting certainty in substance detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Alton, LA
Employers in Alton, LA achieve both compliance and peace of mind using hair follicle testing. This method upholds workplace drug-free policies, significantly reducing legal risks and enhancing safety.

Maintaining a drug-free workplace is paramount, and hair follicle testing serves as a robust assurance for employers, effectively minimizing potential liability issues.

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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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