Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Central, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers, hair offers a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug exposure. When collected near the scalp, it can deliver up to roughly a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (about the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be scarce, an equal quantity of body hair might be gathered. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning involves the sample's initial integration into the lab's system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any leftover data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening represents an initial, rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation to be acceptable in legal contexts. Samples that yield a presumptive positive in Screening require subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which highlights the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which provide a shorter detection period.
• Resistant to deception: Hair drug tests are challenging to manipulate, thereby yielding more accurate results.
• Historical insight: They can reveal a pattern of drug usage over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It approximately takes 5-7 days for drugs to be discernible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Despite the common term "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Central, LA, offers considerable advantages over traditional urine tests. These tests provide superior detection accuracy and a longer detection window, capturing substance use over months.
Compared to urine analysis, hair testing's reliability and inability to be easily adulterated are significant benefits, making it a smart choice for thorough drug screening.

The reliability of hair follicle testing in Central, LA, ensures that employers and organizations achieve a more accurate assessment of substance use, which is essential for maintaining workplace safety and compliance.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Central, LA benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing, which can reveal drug use over the past 90 days. This provides a more comprehensive view of an applicant or employee's history compared to other methods.

With its long-term tracking capability, hair testing in Central, LA, helps businesses make better-informed hiring decisions by examining an employee's sustained substance use, contributing to safer working environments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The integrity of hair follicle testing in Central, LA, lies in its tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other testing methods, hair samples are difficult to adulterate, ensuring the accuracy of results.

This unquestionable reliability significantly reduces the risk of candidates or employees manipulating their test outcomes, providing trustworthy drug screening results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With our many nationwide locations, including in Central, LA, Accredited Drug Testing offers great convenience for drug testing services. Our expansive network ensures quick and hassle-free access, saving time and effort.

Whether you need a test locally in Central or elsewhere, our nationwide reach makes it easy to find a center near you, ensuring efficient and accessible testing for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Central, LA, is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, privacy is prioritized at every step, making the procedure stress-free.

The confidential approach ensures that individuals feel secure throughout the process, while the simplified procedures make it easy to obtain and submit samples without inconvenience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Central, LA. Our competitive pricing structure benefits companies of all sizes, providing excellent value.

With quick processing times, businesses receive results swiftly, promoting timely decision-making. This combination of affordability and speed is ideal for maintaining budget-friendly, effective testing strategies.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Central, LA, hair follicle drug tests stand out for delivering fast, accurate results. These tests offer a high degree of precision in detecting various substances.Results are provided rapidly, ensuring that decisions made based on the testing are well-informed and timely. This speed and accuracy make hair testing a preferred option for discerning employers.

Unlike traditional methods, hair follicle testing in Central, LA, guarantees accuracy, significantly reducing errors in substance detection. The reliability of the test results contributes to enhanced trust in the evaluation process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Central, LA find peace of mind with hair follicle testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This reduces potential legal risks and enhances workplace safety.
Hair testing helps maintain strict tolerance policies, preventing substance abuse in professional environments and supporting employee well-being.

Drug Testing Near Central, LA

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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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