Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Flora, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is acknowledged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a long-term overview of substance use by storing biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair offers up to a three-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and other substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the recommended quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, the same amount of body hair may be used. "Head hair" refers only to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in processing a laboratory drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the entry point of a sample into a laboratory's system. This involves checking the sealing and proper shipping of the sample, giving it a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry tasks not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is the initial test for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive screen needs follow-up confirmation for legal validity. Samples showing positive signs in Screening require additional confirmation.

For samples showing positive indications in Screening, more hair from the existing sample is prepared for Extraction. This process extracts drugs from hair at concentrations considerably lower than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests detect drug usage for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Difficult to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Offers historical data: It provides a pattern of drug use over time rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the test evaluates the hair strand instead of the hair follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Flora, LA

Hair testing triumphs over urine testing due to its extended detection period and superior accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair tests reveal a longer history of drug use, offering trustworthy results that are difficult to dispute.

Employers in Flora, Louisiana, gain assurance in maintaining drug-free environments with a method that tightly guards against tampering or manipulation.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Flora, LA

Hair follicle testing boasts up to a 90-day detection period, providing broader insight into a person's drug use history. This extended window aids employers in evaluating the ongoing substance habits of prospective or current employees.

Such comprehensive assessments allow for informed decisions based on substantial evidence over time, enhancing overall workplace safety and diligence.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Flora, LA

Hair follicle testing is inherently resistant to sample tampering, delivering results that can be trusted unequivocally. With little to no chance of adulteration, the method ensures the integrity of the testing process.

This reliability is crucial in maintaining stringent drug use policies, giving employers peace of mind with every test.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Flora, LA

With testing centers spread nationwide, our facilities in Flora, LA, ensure convenience for everyone, facilitating easy access to drug testing services. This network supports rapid and stress-free testing processes, ensuring swift results.

Whether near or far, quality hair follicle testing is readily available, catering to your needs seamlessly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Flora, LA

The process for hair follicle testing is straightforward and discreet, from ordering to receiving results. In Flora, LA, the confidentiality of the process reassures individuals concerned about privacy, streamlining an otherwise intimidating task.

This simplicity and discretion safeguard user data while ensuring a seamless testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Flora, LA

Our competitive pricing and fast result turnaround set us apart, providing exceptional value. Companies in Flora can capitalize on cost-effective solutions while minimizing downtime in their operations.

Affordable testing does not compromise quality, ensuring you receive the best service for your investment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Flora, LA

Hair follicle tests at our Flora locations offer quick, precise results, making them highly efficient for substance detection. Their enhanced ability to accurately identify drug use sets them apart, ensuring reliability for employers and individuals alike.

By promptly producing reliable outcomes, these tests support better decision-making processes, providing confidence and certainty in the results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Flora, LA

Employers benefit from hair follicle testing as it ensures strict compliance with drug-free workplace policies. Minimizing legal risk and boosting workplace safety, it serves as an invaluable tool for maintaining a harmonious work environment.

By adopting this testing method, companies reaffirm their commitment to a productive and secure workplace.

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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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