Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Haaswood, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the strands, hair offers an extended record of substance use. When samples are taken near the scalp, they can yield a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with roughly 200 hairs (equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearest to the scalp can provide a 100mg sample, ideal for screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG tests, supplements, or beyond 10-panel tests, a 150mg sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equal portion of body hair can be utilized. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other types (such as facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result generally follows four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system, ensuring that it has been properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing further data entry if missing from the electronic chain of custody.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drugs, serving as a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug usage for most samples. However, to be valid in a legal setting, a positive screen requires confirmation. Any presumptive positive samples in Screening need secondary verification.

During Extraction, if Screening suggests a positive result, further hair is taken from the original sample. Drugs are extracted at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing a challenging process.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are used to confirm positive screening results. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited by ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair tests can detect drug use over a 90-day period, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• High security: Hair drug tests are challenging to deceive, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Tracks usage history: It provides an overview of drug consumption patterns over time rather than merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs can take roughly 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests often incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual growth rate may influence drug metabolite concentration within the hair.

Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Haaswood, LA, is evidenced by its advantages in detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair tests are less susceptible to evasion tactics, ensuring reliable results. This method provides a longer detection period, making it more effective for identifying long-term substance use, ultimately offering a more comprehensive screening.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Haaswood, LA, is a notable benefit of hair follicle tests. Capable of detecting drug use over a span of up to 90 days, these tests provide employers with a thorough view of an individual's substance history, unlike traditional methods that offer a much shorter review period.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Haaswood, LA, emphasizes the hair follicle test's superiority in reducing sample adulteration risks. This method ensures the delivery of reliable and unmistakable results, setting a higher standard for accuracy and trustworthiness in drug testing practices.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations ensure swift and accessible services in Haaswood, LA. Our local and nationwide centers offer quick and hassle-free access to drug testing facilities, making it easier for individuals and businesses to conduct essential testing without disruption.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Haaswood, LA, underlines the ease and privacy of our testing services. From ordering to receiving results, we prioritize confidentiality and simplicity, addressing any privacy concerns and ensuring an efficient and user-friendly experience for all participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Haaswood, LA, highlight the value of our services. With competitive pricing and swift result delivery, we ensure that companies of all sizes receive significant value and timely insights, contributing to well-informed decision-making processes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Haaswood, LA, are renowned for their precision and speed. The accuracy of these tests is unparalleled, making them a reliable choice for detecting substance use. Quickly processed results ensure that individuals and employers get the data they need without delay, offering peace of mind through their reliable performance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Haaswood, LA, is significantly enhanced by hair follicle testing. By ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies, it mitigates legal risks and bolsters workplace safety, offering employers security and assurance in their hiring and continued employment practices.

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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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