Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Catahoula, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying alcohol and drug usage. Hair captures biomarkers within the fibers of a growing strand, providing a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake. By collecting hair close to the scalp, it can reveal a detection window of up to around three months for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 strands of hair (equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will weigh about 100mg, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or when testing beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be unavailable, collecting an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. When we refer to head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four essential steps in processing a drug test result in the laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial processing of a sample into the lab's system. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry lacking from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening involves a preliminary fast check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective strategy to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

For samples flagged presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine, oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive finding is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo a wash before confirmation if required. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can detect drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection time.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is extraordinarily difficult, leading to more reliable results.
• Shows usage history: It can demonstrate a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are commonly more costly than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Choose Hair Over Urine Testing in Catahoula, LA

Hair follicle testing offers marked advantages over urine tests, particularly in detection accuracy and reliability. Its longer detection period gives a more thorough historical view of drug use, making it superior.

In Catahoula, LA, hair testing's ability to provide accurate, tamper-proof results boosts its credibility, especially compared to more easily manipulated urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Benefits in Catahoula, LA

One of the significant advantages of hair follicle testing in Catahoula, LA, is its ability to trace drug use over an extensive period, up to 90 days.

This extended detection window offers employers a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history, proving much more insightful than other methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing in Catahoula, LA

Hair follicle testing significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering, ensuring reliable and trustworthy results. This feature makes it an invaluable tool in maintaining the integrity of drug testing procedures.

Compared to other methods, the robustness of hair testing in Catahoula, LA, stands out, reassuring all parties of the secure and accurate outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Widespread Testing Availability in Catahoula, LA

Our nationwide network of testing centers, including local sites in Catahoula, LA, provides convenient, simple access to testing services.

Whether you're looking for quick or comprehensive testing, our locations make it easy to conduct testing anywhere, ensuring hassle-free service and timely results across various cities.

Simple, Confidential Process

Confidential and Straightforward Testing in Catahoula, LA

Our hair follicle testing process in Catahoula, LA, is both secure and user-friendly. It respects your privacy from order placement through to test completion.

The seamless process ensures confidentiality throughout, allowing individuals and employers to proceed with testing without concerns about privacy or complexity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable and Swift Solutions in Catahoula, LA

We offer competitive pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle testing in Catahoula, LA. Our cost-effective services provide exceptional value for businesses, big or small.

With rapid results and reasonable costs, our services offer peace of mind while ensuring you stay informed and prepared.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precise and Rapid Hair Follicle Testing in Catahoula, LA

Hair follicle drug testing is renowned for delivering fast and accurate results. This speed is complemented by its unsurpassed precision in identifying substance use, making it a favored choice in Catahoula, LA.

Employers and individuals benefit greatly from this method, ensuring timely insights into substance use, boosting confidence in the results delivered quickly and efficiently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employer Assurance in Catahoula, LA

Hair follicle testing supports compliance with stringent drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind to employers in Catahoula, LA.

This method not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances overall workplace safety. By choosing hair testing, employers demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a drug-free environment.

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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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