Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Grand Cane, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the growing strands. When sampled near the scalp, hair offers an approximately three-month window of detection for alcohol and other drugs. It is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A segment of 1.5 inches composed of around 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for examination and validation. For EtG, additional components, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen. Should scalp hair not be available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used instead. By "head hair," we mean only scalp hair. "Body hair" refers to any other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test result in a lab involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of incorporating the sample into the laboratory's system, which includes ensuring the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and finishing any supplementary data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

The Screening step is a preliminary check for substances of abuse. Although it is an economical way to eliminate drug usage in most cases, a positive result requires confirmation to be legally valid. Samples with a presumptive positive result during Screening need a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are obtained from hair at more dilute concentrations than with other practices (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging procedure.

Positive results from screening go through Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples with presumptive positive results are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which detect for shorter durations.
• Resistance to tampering: It is notably challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a drug use pattern over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to identify recent use: Drugs generally become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests often come at a higher cost than other drug testing techniques.
• Result fluctuations: Variations such as hair color and individual hair growth differences may affect drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly dubbed "hair follicle tests," this assay evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle tests in Grand Cane, LA, often surpass traditional urine tests in efficiency. They excel in detecting long-term drug use histories, offering accuracy and broader investigative windows. This makes them particularly beneficial for employers and legal bodies aiming for rigorous substance use policies.

While urine tests effectively detect recent usage, hair testing provides a comprehensive perspective on past behavior, making it a valuable tool for employers and authorities.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Grand Cane, LA, allows for an extended detection window, monitoring substance use up to 90 days prior. This wide range offers insight into an individual's substance habits, which can be pivotal for employers making informed decisions about potential hires.

A comprehensive detection period aids in evaluating long-term substance use patterns, assisting companies in making better decisions regarding current or potential employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is a tamper-proof method that reduces the likelihood of sample adulteration in Grand Cane, LA. Due to its unique collection and analysis process, altering test outcomes become significantly challenging, ensuring results remain reliable.

This resistance to manipulation assures testers and organizations of credible findings, amplifying trust and validity in the results obtained.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With comprehensive testing sites nationally and locally within Grand Cane, LA, accessing necessary services is straightforward. Accredited Drug Testing ensures quick and convenient testing facilities, providing residents with easy, hassle-free access to fundamental services.

This nationwide presence guarantees uninterrupted service delivery and accommodations tailored to user needs wherever they are.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Grand Cane, LA, our hair follicle testing process remains simple and confidential. Ordering, undergoing, and receiving results are seamless tasks, ensuring users' privacy concerns are addressed throughout the testing journey.

Effortless procedures contribute to a stress-free experience, with emphasis on maintaining the confidentiality and convenience of all clients involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing structure in Grand Cane, LA, paired with swift turnaround times, provides outstanding value. Whether for large-scale companies or smaller enterprises, these services ensure affordable and reliable drug testing solutions.

This approach reinforces our commitment to delivering economical and efficient testing, offering peace of mind to companies with various budgetary needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Grand Cane, LA, hair follicle testing offers rapid and precise detection of substance use. The methodology ensures high levels of accuracy in identifying drug presence. This not only provides peace of mind to users but also reinforces the credibility of results.

The speed and accuracy of these tests are unmatched. Hair testing swiftly delivers results, minimizing downtime and promptly supplying crucial information on substance use, reinforcing its dependability across various requirements.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Grand Cane, LA employers, hair follicle testing reinforces compliance with workplace drug policies. This process aids in minimizing legal exposure and enhances workplace safety, offering peace of mind and governance over workplace standards.

Ensuring adherence to drug-free policies promotes a safer work environment and mitigates potential legal challenges associated with substance use.

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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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