Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Estherwood, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair screening is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive history of substances like alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the hair strands as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, fairly resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. In discussions concerning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the sample's preliminary entry into a lab system. This process includes verifying correct sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any other necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial swift assessment for drug presence. It is a cost-effective strategy to exclude drug usage in most samples, yet a positive result in Screening must be corroborated for legal admissibility. Any presumptively positive specimens in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

If a specimen is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample and prepped for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned prior to confirmation as dictated. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• High resistance to evasion: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, leading to more reliable results.
• Reveals usage patterns: It can illustrate drug use over a duration, beyond recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: Drugs require around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although frequently referred to as "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on analyzing the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests in Estherwood, LA. With superior detection accuracy and reliability, hair tests capture a longer history of drug use, providing employers with a clearer understanding of an individual's substance use patterns.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Estherwood, LA benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing. Capable of identifying drug use for up to 90 days, these tests offer a comprehensive view of an applicant or employee's substance history, making them invaluable for informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Estherwood, LA significantly reduce the risk of sample adulteration. With a process that is nearly impossible to cheat, businesses can trust the integrity of the results, making them a reliable choice for drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing services in Estherwood, LA are supported by convenient nationwide locations. This network ensures quick, easy, and hassle-free access to testing, making it simple for individuals to get tested whenever and wherever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Estherwood, LA is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, privacy and ease of use are prioritized, addressing any concerns about the testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Estherwood, LA offers affordable pricing and fast turnaround times. We provide excellent value, ensuring companies of all sizes can access top-quality drug testing without compromising on speed or accuracy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Estherwood, LA, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. The precision of these tests ensures that any substance use is detected with high accuracy, making them a preferred choice for many employers and legal entities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Estherwood, LA ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This method helps reduce legal risks and enhances workplace safety, providing peace of mind for employers committed to maintaining a safe and compliant work environment.

Drug Testing Near Estherwood, LA

Duson, LA

Hathaway, LA

Kaplan, LA

Lake Arthur, LA

Rayne, LA

Gueydan, LA

Iota, LA

Maxie, LA

Evangeline, LA

Mermentau, LA

Egan, 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