Hair Follicle Drug Testing - East Point, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month detection window for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is easy, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easily shipped.

A 1.5-inch portion consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's size) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, an optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, while "body hair" pertains to all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

In laboratory processing of drug test results, the four primary steps are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial handling of a sample within a lab's system. This step includes confirming that the sample arrived sealed and properly shipped, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering any additional data not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary and rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While cost-effective and suitable for ruling out drug use in many samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court admissible. Any samples testing presumptively positive during Screening demand a secondary confirmation.

If Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is taken from the original specimen to prepare for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence why hair drug screening poses greater methodological challenges.

Positive screening results are confirmed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Any samples presumed positive are cleaned prior to confirmation as necessary. Each laboratory step from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug use up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests with shorter windows.
• Hard to bypass: The results of hair drug tests are more dependable due to their resistance to cheating.
• Historical insight: They reveal patterns of drug use over time, beyond simply recent usage.

Limitations:

• Lacks immediate detection: Drugs require about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Pricey: Hair drug testing is typically more costly than alternative drug testing forms.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", these tests examine the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In East Point, LA, Hair Follicle Testing presents a robust advantage over traditional urine tests. Offering superior detection accuracy, hair testing reveals past substance use over longer periods, unlike urine tests which only cover short-term drug activity. This long-term insight is crucial for employers who prioritize a drug-free workplace.

Extended Detection Window

The Extended Detection Window of hair follicle tests in East Point, LA, spans up to 90 days. This comprehensive period allows employers to assess an individual’s substance use reliably. The ability to detect drug use over three months provides a thorough understanding of a person’s history, far exceeding the scope of urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Hair Testing offers substantial advantages in East Point, LA. The integrity of hair follicle tests is largely due to their minimally invasive yet meticulously observed collection process. This method ensures sample authenticity, minimizing the risks of adulteration that are common with alternative testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations throughout East Point, LA, ensure easy access to hair follicle drug testing. Our expansive network of testing centers provides effortless services nationwide, enabling quick and hassle-free testing. This convenience allows clients to undergo testing without disruption to their daily routines.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Confidential Process defines hair follicle testing in East Point, LA. The streamlined steps from ordering tests to receiving results preserve the participant's privacy. Customers can trust that their information is protected, ensuring discretion throughout the entire testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing and Speed make hair follicle drug testing an attractive option in East Point, LA. Our affordably structured pricing models cater to businesses of all sizes, while our prompt turnaround times emphasize value. This combination offers companies effective testing solutions without incurring excessive costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Swift and Accurate Results are key benefits of hair follicle drug tests in East Point, LA. These tests deliver reliable results by detecting multiple substances with precision. The efficiency of the testing process ensures rapid turnaround times, aiding in quick decision-making while maintaining high standards of accuracy and reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employer Compliance is strengthened through hair follicle testing in East Point, LA. By integrating these tests into their drug-free workplace policies, businesses can significantly reduce legal and safety risks. This provides peace of mind, ensuring a secure and compliant working environment for all stakeholders involved.

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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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