Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hester, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective technique to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures biomarkers within the fibers of its growing strands, providing an extended history of alcohol and drug usage. When collected near the scalp, hair offers up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample containing around 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) at the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, or examinations over 10 panels, it is recommended to have 150mg of specimens. We advise weighing the samples on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair refers to every other hair type (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial process of entering a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry missed out by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides an initial rapid examination for drug abuse. Screening serves as a cost-efficient means to rule out drug use in most samples, but confirmations are essential for court admissibility. All samples showing presumptive positives in Screening require secondary confirmation.

For samples marked presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are drawn from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the hardest methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening finding is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation if necessary. The entire procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation of ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests provide a shorter detection timeline.
• Difficult to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It reveals a drug use pattern over a duration, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot trace recent use: It takes nearly 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally pricier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though frequently called "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Compared to traditional urine testing, hair follicle tests in Hester, LA, offer superior detection accuracy and reliability. By analyzing hair samples, these tests can detect drug use over a longer period, providing a broader picture of an individual's history. This makes them an ideal choice for checking adherence to drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Hester, LA, covers up to 90 days, showcasing drug use history comprehensively. Employers find this advantageous for evaluating applicants or monitoring employees, as it reflects long-term substance behavior beyond the scope of short-term assays.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Hester, LA, offers a tamper-resistant solution that greatly reduces sample adulteration risks. This method ensures the reliability and credibility of results due to its intrinsic resistance to manipulation, providing undeniable evidence of any substance use history.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing centers throughout Hester, LA and nationwide, the accessibility of our services ensures fast and hassle-free testing procedures. This widespread reach allows for efficient scheduling and rapid access to testing without geographic limitations.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our simple and confidential process in Hester, LA, makes ordering, sampling, and obtaining results straightforward. This discreet approach addresses privacy concerns and assures participants of the ease and security of the testing experience, smoothing the path to completion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times in Hester, LA, our services present excellent value for businesses regardless of size. Our competitive pricing structures, combined with quick results delivery, emphasize value and peace of mind for any organization.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and precision of hair follicle drug tests in Hester, LA, provide a high level of accuracy in detecting substance use. These tests offer quick results, allowing employers to make informed decisions promptly. With advanced technology, hair follicle testing ensures reliable detection of drug use, giving employers and individuals peace of mind.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Hester, LA, gain compliance and peace of mind by implementing hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks, and contributing to a safe and productive environment, ensuring both security and employer assurance.

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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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