Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cocodrie, LA

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing is increasingly recognized as a robust method for detecting alcohol and drug consumption. Hair captures a longitudinal record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. Collected from close to the scalp, hair samples can offer a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Harvesting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easily transportable.

A 1.5-inch section composed of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly equivalent to the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg, an optimal quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG extensions and/or testing beyond 10 panels, a specimen amounting to 150mg is advisable. It is suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If no scalp hair is available, a similar quantity of body hair may be used as a substitute. When mentioning head hair, we specifically reference scalp hair. Body hair comprises all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result encompasses four major phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system, confirming proper sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data that the electronic chain of custody system may not provide.

Screening entails a preliminary swift analysis for drugs of misuse. Though Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be verified for legality in court. Samples displaying a presumptive positive in Screening require secondary verification.

Should a sample return presumptive positive results during Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. At this point, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which underlines why hair drug screening is the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive Screening outcomes is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo a wash process before Confirmation as warranted. The full laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes scrutiny 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 trace drug use for a duration of up to 90 days, which is longer than the detection period for urine tests.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is considerably difficult, thus results are more reliable.
• Tracks usage history: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Lack of immediate detection: Drugs typically become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug analysis tends to cost more compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Individual factors like hair color and growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Cocodrie, LA, hair follicle testing prevails over urine testing by providing a more extensive detection period and superior accuracy. This ensures a comprehensive overview of one's substance history.

Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle tests in Cocodrie, LA demonstrate superior reliability by making it nearly impossible for individuals to cheat, offering more comprehensive results.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle test's ability to detect drug use over 90 days in Cocodrie, LA furnishes employers with a broader substance history of an individual, enhancing their decision-making process.

This extended detection window in Cocodrie, LA means employers gain deeper insights into an employee's past drug use, unlike urine tests which offer a narrower detection timeline.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Cocodrie, LA, hair follicle tests significantly minimize the risk of specimen tampering, providing dependable and undeniable results.

The resistance to adulteration with hair follicle testing ensures that results remain consistent and credible, offering peace of mind to organizations concerned with sample integrity in Cocodrie, LA.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key with our nationwide testing centers, including locations in Cocodrie, LA, to make hair follicle testing accessible and simple.

Our extensive network of testing locations guarantees that individuals in Cocodrie, LA, can quickly access drug testing services without hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Cocodrie, LA remains straightforward and private, ensuring user confidence in privacy protection.

Using a confidential and easy-to-follow procedure, hair follicle testing assures individuals in Cocodrie, LA of both privacy and simplicity in handling their testing needs.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing paired with quick turnaround times in Cocodrie, LA ensures excellent value for companies, providing them with peace of mind without compromising on service quality.

Employers in Cocodrie, LA benefit from our affordable hair follicle testing options, fast result delivery, and great value, suitable for organizations of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Cocodrie, LA offer rapid and trustworthy outcomes. Precision and speed highlight their capability to detect substance use accurately.

The proficiency of hair follicle tests allows for reliable results that capture substance use with exceptional accuracy, ensuring employers get the information they need without unnecessary delays.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Cocodrie, LA, hair follicle testing ensures companies comply with drug-free policies, reducing legal liabilities and promoting workplace safety.

Employers using hair tests benefit from lowered legal risks and enhanced peace of mind, knowing they meet compliance standards and support a safer work environment in Cocodrie, 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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