Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cottonport, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair tests are increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a prolonged record of drugs and alcohol by embedding biomarkers into the growing hair strand fibers. When taken near the scalp, a hair sample can offer nearly a 3-month detection range for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample, consisting of around 200 strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) from the scalp area will yield 100mg of hair, the ideal amount for screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's advisable to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equal amount of body hair can be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four central steps in processing a drug test in a lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the preliminary processing of a sample in a lab's system. This entails ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is about conducting an initial check for drugs. Although Screening is cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in the majority of samples, positive screens must be validated to be admissible legally. Samples with a presumptive positive in Screening need further Confirmation.

If a sample is presumptive positive during the Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screen is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: It detects drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which provide a shorter detection range.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is very difficult, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Shows historical patterns: It can illustrate drug use over a longer duration, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: It usually takes 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand rather than the scalp's hair follicle

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability in Cottonport, LA. Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide a broader detection window, reflecting long-term substance use.

Employers find hair testing to be a more comprehensive approach, enabling a thorough assessment of an individual's drug habits.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window, hair follicle testing can identify drug use over a prolonged period of up to 90 days in Cottonport, LA. This duration allows for a detailed insight into a person's substance history.

Employers benefit greatly from this extended scope when evaluating potential or current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests significantly diminishes the likelihood of sample adulteration in Cottonport, LA. This offers peace of mind by ensuring the reliability of results.

Such resistance to tampering strengthens the trust in the testing process, making it nearly impossible to cheat.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide and local testing locations in Cottonport, LA, ensuring accessibility for all. With centers throughout the country, scheduling a test is quick and hassle-free.

This extensive network allows individuals and companies easy access to the drug testing services they require.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our simple and confidential process in Cottonport, LA, makes ordering, taking, and receiving results straightforward. The emphasis on privacy addresses any concerns regarding confidentiality and usability.

Clients can trust that the process is designed for comfort and discretion from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, our services in Cottonport, LA deliver exceptional value to companies. Regardless of size, all businesses benefit from our competitive pricing and prompt results.

We ensure quick and reliable service, meeting the diverse needs of our clients efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cottonport, LA, hair follicle drug tests are known for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. The precision of these tests allows for swift detection of substance use, offering high accuracy that surpasses traditional methods.

The speed at which hair follicle drug tests return results makes them a favored choice for employers wishing to maintain drug-free workplaces effectively.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Cottonport, LA, hair follicle testing provides compliance and peace of mind. By ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies, businesses can reduce legal risks and enhance workplace safety.

Implementing hair testing promotes a safer environment and supports corporate responsibility.

Drug Testing Near Cottonport, LA

Bordelonville, LA

Morrow, LA

Marksville, LA

Goudeau, LA

Bunkie, LA

Hamburg, LA

Hessmer, LA

Moreauville, LA

Mansura, LA

Plaucheville, LA

Long Bridge, LA

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews