Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Berwick, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. The fibers of the growing hair strand encase biomarkers, offering a prolonged history of alcohol and other drug intake. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window for alcohol and other drugs of up to roughly 3 months. Hair collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hairs (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and validation. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair may be utilized. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair alone. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into the lab’s system. It involves confirming the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is cost-effective for ruling out drug use in most samples, a confirmed positive screen is necessary for court acceptance. Samples tentatively positive in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample indicate a positive result during the Screening phase, additional hair from the original specimen is readied for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluid), underpinning the complexity of hair drug testing.

Any positive screening outcomes undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed if required before confirmation. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes a review 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 evaluations can trace drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter periods.
• Cheating is challenging: Due to its nature, evading a hair drug test is quite tough, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Historical insight: The test reveals drug usage patterns over time, rather than mere recent usage.

Limitations:

• Recent usage undetectable: Drugs only become traceable in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur greater costs than other testing approaches.
• Variable outcomes: Aspects such as hair color and individual hair growth variations can affect drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the procedure actually assesses 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 Berwick, LA
Hair testing outshines traditional urine assays in Berwick due to its superior accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle analysis provides a longer detection timeframe, better chronicling an individual's drug history. This method also reduces the likelihood of result manipulation, ensuring employers have a clearer picture for decision-making.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Berwick, LA
One of the chief advantages of hair follicle testing in Berwick is its capacity to detect drug use over a significantly extended period—up to 90 days. This wide timeframe affords employers insight into an applicant's or employee's long-term substance use patterns. With this comprehensive view, hiring decisions are better informed.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Berwick, LA
The integrity of hair follicle testing in Berwick is unparalleled due to its resistance to tampering. This testing modality minimizes the risk of adulterated samples, thereby ensuring trustworthy and unassailable results. It is nearly impossible to manipulate outcomes, safeguarding the testing process from potential deceit.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Berwick, LA
Access to hair follicle testing is hassle-free thanks to Accredited Drug Testing's extensive network of centers across the U.S. and locally in Berwick. Quick and easy access to testing sites means that both individuals and employers can partake in the convenience and efficiency this location network offers.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Berwick, LA
The process for ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results in Berwick is streamlined and maintains confidentiality. Concerns over privacy are addressed, ensuring a straightforward and discreet experience from start to finish, making it ideal for sensitive testing situations.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Berwick, LA
In Berwick, businesses can take advantage of the competitive pricing and swift turnaround times associated with hair follicle testing. The service offers exceptional value, catering to organizations of all sizes looking for cost-effective, reliable testing solutions without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Berwick, LA
Hair follicle drug testing in Berwick guarantees swift and dependable results. This method is highly accurate, detecting substance use with exceptional precision. The advanced testing technology ensures that accurate results are delivered efficiently, providing definitive answers to the presence of illicit substances.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Berwick, LA
Employers in Berwick benefit from the reassurance that hair follicle tests bring regarding compliance with drug-free policies. This testing method diminishes legal risks and promotes a safer workplace environment, ensuring adherence to company protocols and providing 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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