Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Fred, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments are now regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a detailed retrospective look at drug and alcohol intake by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can present a detection timespan of up to roughly 90 days for substances such as alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, slightly resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of around 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for both initial screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or evaluations surpassing 10 panels, a specimen sample of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent measure of body hair may be used. In mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key phases involved in the lab handling of a drug test result consist of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary handling of a sample within the lab's system. This step ensures that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any additional data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody process.

Screening represents an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage from most samples, a confirmation is needed for any positive screen to hold up in court. Samples that are tentatively positive during Screening must undergo another confirmation.

In cases where a sample tests presumptively positive in Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair in much lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is among the most complex methods to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening results is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples deemed presumptive positive are washed before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug exams can reveal drug usage up to 90 days back, as opposed to urine tests that have shorter detection spans.
• Hard to falsify: Successfully tampering with a hair drug test is quite challenging, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Reflects historical usage: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over a longer timeframe, beyond just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests conventionally cost more compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors including hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although these are commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand itself, not the scalp-embedded hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Fred, LA employers find hair follicle testing superior to traditional urine tests due to its enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. The comprehensive nature of hair testing spots drug use over a much longer timeframe than urine tests, making it valuable for pre-employment screenings.

Compared to urine testing, hair analysis offers higher confidence levels for employers keen on maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Fred, LA extends the detection of substance use up to 90 days. This extensive window is crucial for employers who require a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance history, going beyond the limitations of urine tests.

Employers benefit from a proactive approach, assessing long-term patterns of drug use rather than recent consumption.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Fred, LA, the hair follicle test is a trusted method for reducing the risk of adulteration. Hair samples are extremely difficult to tamper with, ensuring that the results provided are both reliable and faithful representations of an individual's drug use history.

This measure significantly mitigates concerns about sample swapping or contamination, strengthening confidence in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers the convenience of local and nationwide testing centers, including Fred, LA. This widespread availability ensures that accessing testing services is hassle-free, catering to needs no matter where one is located, with a focus on speed and simplicity.

Quick access to tests empowers employers and individuals to address drug testing needs efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Fred, LA, our drug testing process emphasizes simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering a test to receiving results, clients experience a seamless process designed to protect privacy and ensure ease of use, addressing any concerns about data security and personal comfort.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Fred, LA provides affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times, making it a valuable service for companies of all sizes. This approach not only ensures compliance but also offers excellent value and reassurance under budget constraints.

Our cost-effective structures contribute to efficient budgeting for workplace safety and compliance programs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Fred, LA, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for delivering fast and precise results. These tests are capable of accurately identifying substance use with a level of sensitivity that ensures minimal chances of error or false positives, providing peace of mind to employers and individuals alike.

Timely results from hair tests are essential, enabling swift decision-making for businesses.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

By choosing hair follicle testing, Fred, LA employers foster compliance with workplace drug-free initiatives. This method eliminates legal vulnerabilities and bolsters workplace safety, offering peace of mind and aligning with zero-tolerance frameworks.

Employers can confidently implement policies knowing the testing aligns with industry standards and safety requirements.

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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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