Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Funston, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and other drugs by integrating biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When taken close to the scalp, hair can deliver up to a roughly 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively immune to tampering, and easy to send.

A 1.5-inch section of about 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar amount of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four key steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial induction of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This encompasses verifying proper sealing and shipping of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid inspection for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples that are presumptively positive during Screening do require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are removed from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed prior to confirmation when necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can uncover drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Difficult to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is very challenging, thus enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Provides retrospective data: It offers a timeline of drug use over a duration, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally more costly compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual variations in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination actually focuses on the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Funston, LA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in several ways. Hair tests offer superior detection, capturing a longer history of substance use—up to 90 days—which urine tests cannot match. This advantage provides a more comprehensive substance history for employers, enhancing the reliability of results. Additionally, hair tests reduce the chances of sample tampering, improving overall confidence in the testing method.

Advantages Over Urine Testing

• Extended detection period
• Less vulnerability to tampering
• Broader drug use history

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Funston, LA is particularly valued for its extended detection window—spanning up to 90 days. This extensive period allows for a thorough assessment of an individual's drug history. Employers gain a comprehensive view of substance use patterns, which helps in making informed decisions about prospective employees or monitoring current staff in drug-sensitive work environments. This extended coverage surpasses what traditional testing methods offer.

Extended Detection Benefits

• Comprehensive assessment of drug use history
• Informative for long-term behavior analysis
• Beneficial for drug-sensitive roles

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests employed in Funston, LA are significantly resistant to tampering, ensuring credible results. This method drastically reduces the risk of sample adulteration, providing a reliable and robust testing alternative. For employers, this means assurance that results are not only accurate but also trustworthy, minimizing the chance of interference or manipulation that often affects other testing forms.

Why Choose Tamper-Resistant Testing

• Assured integrity of test samples
• Reduced risks of specimen adulteration
• Reliable and trustworthy outcomes

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing locations both locally in Funston, LA and nationwide, hair testing access is seamless and hassle-free. Accredited Drug Testing ensures quick and easy access via widespread centers, helping individuals and employers receive necessary testing without delay. This infrastructure supports efficient testing logistics, making it accessible for all regardless of location.

Accessible Testing Services

• Convenient local and nationwide centers
• Quick and easy testing procedures
• Efficient logistics for minimal waiting times

Simple, Confidential Process

In Funston, LA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Individuals can order, undergo testing, and receive results with utmost privacy. This streamlined process addresses privacy concerns and emphasizes the importance of ease-of-use, ensuring that personal information and test results are handled securely, providing peace of mind to all test participants.

Streamlined and Confidential

• Secure ordering and receiving of results
• Simplified testing process
• Confidential handling of personal data

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing, the hair follicle testing in Funston, LA provides excellent value. Companies and individuals benefit from fast turnaround times, ensuring timely receipt of results without compromising on cost. This balance between affordability and quality service makes hair testing an attractive option for businesses of various scales, looking to implement or maintain effective drug testing policies.

Cost-Effective and Efficient

• Competitive pricing structures
• Fast result turnaround
• Great value for businesses of any size

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test in Funston, LA is noted for its rapid and reliable results. Its precision sets it apart in accurately detecting substance use compared to other tests. The speed of the process ensures minimal waiting times, providing individuals and employers with needed information swiftly. This efficiency is paired with high accuracy, making hair testing a preferred choice for those seeking dependable outcomes.

Key Benefits

• High accuracy levels reducing false positives
• Quick turnaround time
• Reliable detection even with historical drug use

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Funston, LA gain compliance and peace of mind through the use of hair follicle drug tests. This method aligns with stringent workplace drug policies, aiding in adherence to drug-free mandates. By reducing legal risks associated with potential drug misuse, companies ensure a safer work environment. The results offer reassurance to employers about their workforce’s compliance with company standards.

Ensuring Compliance and Safety

• Reduces legal exposure
• Enhances workplace safety
• Aligns with drug-free workplace policies

Drug Testing Near Funston, LA

Mitchell, LA

Naborton, LA

Frierson, LA

Keithville, LA

Carmel, LA

Benson, LA

Mansfield, LA

South Mansfield, LA

Kingston, LA

Keatchie, LA

Keachi, LA

Grand Cane, LA

Stanley, LA

Logansport, LA

Longstreet, 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