Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bush, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a highly effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended history of substance use by capturing biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. By collecting hair close to the scalp, it is possible to achieve up to a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair samples are easy to gather, relatively resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (equivalent in size to a #2 pencil) taken nearest the scalp provides a 100mg sample, ideal for testing and confirming. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding ten panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the hair is advised. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equal quantity of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses other hair types (like facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial stage where the sample is entered into the laboratory system. This step involves ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary review to identify substances of abuse. While it’s a cost-efficient means to dismiss drug use in most cases, a positive screening result needs confirmation for legal acceptance. Samples that indicate a positive result during Screening must undergo additional confirmation.

If a sample yields a positive result during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Extraction. In this stage, substances are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other testing methods (such as urine or oral fluid), thus making hair screening a challenging method.

Confirmation for any positive screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to the standards of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug tests are challenging to cheat, ensuring higher accuracy in results.
• Shows usage history: Provides insights into patterns of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Drugs take approximately 5-7 days to become identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are costlier than other testing options.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bush, LA

• Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy over traditional urine tests.
• The extended detection window captures long-term substance use.
• Hair testing is more reliable, often immune to common tampering techniques found in urine tests.

These factors underscore hair testing’s advantage in detecting consistent substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bush, LA

• Hair follicle tests trace substance use up to 90 days back.
• This extended window covers a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history.
• Employers benefit from understanding long-term usage patterns rather than recent consumption alone.

This capability helps employers make informed decisions regarding hiring and employee monitoring.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bush, LA

• Hair follicle tests significantly minimize the risk of result manipulation.
• The method provides reliable and indisputable outcomes.
• Unlike urine tests, which can be adulterated, hair samples maintain their integrity through rigorous handling processes.

This robustness assures authorities and employers of the credibility of the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bush, LA

• Our expansive network of testing centers offers easy access.
• Accessible services mean reduced time spent on logistics and more on getting results.
• Both nationwide and local options ensure flexibility for various needs.

These convenient solutions remove barriers in accessing important testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bush, LA

• The process for hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential.
• Individuals can easily order tests, partake in them, and receive results without hassle.
• Privacy is a top priority, with data securely handled at every stage.

This seamless procedure alleviates concerns about confidentiality and accessibility.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bush, LA

• Competitive pricing makes hair testing a cost-effective choice for companies.
• Fast turnaround times deliver swift results, reducing delays in decision-making.
• This affordability paired with efficiency ensures excellent value for all sizes of businesses.

Thus, companies benefit from both financial and operational advantages.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bush, LA

• Hair follicle drug tests deliver swift and precise results.
• These tests exhibit high accuracy in identifying substance use.
• The rapid turnaround ensures that individuals and organizations can act promptly on findings.

This speed and precision make hair testing a preferred choice in environments where reliability is paramount.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bush, LA

• Hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace mandates.
• It minimizes legal risks by providing clear and accurate drug use evidence.
• This method enhances overall workplace safety, supporting a healthy and productive environment.

Such benefits afford companies the reassurance they need regarding their workforce.

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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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