Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Grand Chenier, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a formidable instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair provides a detection period of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (equivalent to the size of a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample volume for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests that exceed 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is advised. It is advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, collecting a comparable quantity of body hair is permissible. References to head hair pertain exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other forms of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratorial processing of a drug test outcome encompasses four chief steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a sample within a laboratory’s system. This comprises validating the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any extraneous data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening constitutes an initial scan for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as an economical approach to dismiss drug usage in the bulk of samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation to be valid in court. Presumptively positive samples in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

In instances of a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a considerably reduced concentration than in alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), establishing hair drug screening as the most intricate method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a cleansing before confirmation if required. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring the results’ accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: This method can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become discernible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other drug testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual discrepancies in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination is conducted on the hair strand itself and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing
In Grand Chenier, LA, hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests through superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests are common, hair tests offer a broader window of substance detection, making them ideal for those seeking a comprehensive view of drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window
Hair follicle testing offers an unparalleled advantage with its 90-day detection period for drug use. In Grand Chenier, LA, this extended window provides employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history, ensuring informed decisions regarding potential hires or ongoing employee evaluations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method
In Grand Chenier, LA, hair follicle tests significantly minimize the risk of adulteration. Their stringent collection processes ensure that results remain accurate and trustworthy, providing reliable data for those requiring indisputable evidence of substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations
With testing centers across the nation, including local Grand Chenier, LA, locations, accessing our services is straightforward. These centers ensure quick, convenient, and hassle-free testing, accommodating the needs of individuals and companies alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process
The hair follicle testing process in Grand Chenier, LA, is streamlined for simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to receiving results, the entire procedure respects privacy, encouraging individuals and businesses to utilize our services without concerns over data protection or ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround
Grand Chenier, LA, benefits from our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times. Our services provide excellent value, ensuring businesses of any size can confidently manage their testing requirements without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results
Grand Chenier, LA, benefits greatly from the precise and speedy hair follicle drug tests. With their enhanced accuracy, these tests ensure high-level detection of substance use, delivering reliable results efficiently. Their quick processing times ensure that individuals and employers can make timely, well-informed decisions without delay.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers
Utilizing hair follicle tests in Grand Chenier, LA, ensures employer compliance with drug-free policies. These tests mitigate legal risks and promote a safe work environment, offering peace of mind and reinforcing a secure organizational culture.

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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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