Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Arabi, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as a strong method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair provides a prolonged history of substance use by encasing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken near to the scalp, hair can offer an approximate lookout of up to 3 months for detecting alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, somewhat tough to tamper with, and simplifies shipping.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the prime quantity for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. We advise measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unattainable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be taken. When indicating head hair, it refers specifically to scalp hair. Body hair denotes any other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary procedures involved in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a specimen into a lab's system. This process involves verifying that the specimen was adequately sealed and securely shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry lacking from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid inspection for prohibited substances. While Screening is an economical approach for excluding drug use on most specimens, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to hold up in legal settings. Any specimens that are presumptively positive during Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

Should a specimen be presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate method to execute.

Validation of any positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleansed prior to confirmation if needed. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized 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 identify drug usage for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to falsify: It is extremely challenging to falsify a hair drug test, consequently enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insights: It can offer a timeline of drug use over months, not just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent intake: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually involve higher costs than other drug detection methods.
• Variations in findings: Aspects such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often referred to as "hair follicle tests", the examination itself evaluates 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 Arabi, LA
Hair follicle tests outshine the conventional urine tests through superior detection prowess and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which only identify recent drug use, hair testing offers a comprehensive look into an individual's substance history, making it a preferred choice for many employers and organizations.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Arabi, LA
Hair follicle testing is second to none for its ability to uncover drug usage over an extended timeframe—up to 90 days. This wide detection period provides employers in Arabi, LA with an in-depth understanding of a candidate or employee's past substance use, ensuring informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Arabi, LA
Arabi, LA benefits significantly from the tamper-proof nature of hair follicle tests. These tests minimize the potential for sample tampering, offering trustworthy and indisputable results. For organizations seeking a reliable drug testing method, hair follicle tests prove exceptionally effective in maintaining integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Arabi, LA
With testing centers spread nationwide and in Arabi, LA, accessing hair follicle testing services couldn't be easier. Accredited Drug Testing guarantees a swift and smooth process, making drug testing hassle-free for both local and nationwide clients who require efficient service.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Arabi, LA
Simplicity and confidentiality are the pillars of our hair follicle testing in Arabi, LA. From ordering to sample collection and result delivery, the process is seamless and respects privacy. This approach reassures clients of both ease of use and privacy, crucial factors for their peace of mind.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Arabi, LA
Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and swift result turnaround in Arabi, LA. This ensures that organizations of all sizes receive exceptional value and service, underlining our commitment to delivering budget-friendly, dependable drug testing solutions quickly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Arabi, LA
Hair follicle tests are unbeatable when it comes to providing fast, accurate detection of substance use. This testing method not only offers precise results but also ensures reliability that traditional tests cannot match. With hair testing, Arabi, LA employers gain peace of mind knowing they are getting clear, trustworthy insights into substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Arabi, LA
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Arabi, LA greatly aids employers in maintaining compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This testing method lowers legal threats and bolsters workplace safety by ensuring a reliable assessment of compliance, which is vital for peace of mind.

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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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