Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Inniswold, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair records a long-term history of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers in the strands of the hair as it grows. When taken close to the scalp, hair offers up to roughly a three-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch length consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn’t present, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When head hair is mentioned, it refers to only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary phases in processing a drug test result in a lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial entry of a sample into the laboratory system. This step involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing necessary data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary rapid assessment for the presence of drugs. While Screening is a cost-efficient approach to disqualifying drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be valid in legal contexts. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

When a sample appears presumptively positive in the Screening step, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and made ready for Extraction. Here, drugs are separated from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology to execute.

For Confirmation of any positive Screening outcomes, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS is utilized. Every presumptive positive sample undergoes washing prior to confirmation as required. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection period.
• Resistant to circumvention: Hair drug tests are challenging to alter, thus providing more reliable results.
• Offers historical insights: It reveals a usage pattern over time, beyond immediate consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting immediate use: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days to become identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can alter drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Inniswold, LA, hair follicle testing is proving superior to traditional urine tests. Hair testing offers unmatched detection precision and reliability. Unlike urine, hair tests provide a broader detection window, making it more effective in uncovering habitual substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Inniswold, LA offer an extended detection window, spotting drug use for as long as 90 days. This gives employers a thorough understanding of an applicant or employee's substance history, far surpassing the capabilities of urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Inniswold, LA, hair follicle testing significantly mitigates the chances of sample tampering. The test's nature ensures reliablility and confidence in the results, making it a trustworthy method that withstands manipulation attempts.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing sites throughout the nation, including Inniswold, LA, our hair testing services are easily accessible. This widespread network allows for quick and stress-free testing experiences, providing unmatched convenience to all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Inniswold, LA, ordering and undertaking hair follicle tests is a straightforward and secretive process. Ensuring privacy and simplicity, the procedure alleviates concerns associated with drug testing, making it a user-friendly option.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hair follicle testing in Inniswold, LA offers competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times. Our services deliver excellent value to businesses of varying sizes, ensuring economic feasibility while maintaining swift and reliable results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug tests are unrivaled in Inniswold, LA. These tests are known for delivering fast and accurate results, making them a preferred choice for many. The high reliability in identifying substance use ensures they stand out in the field.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Inniswold, LA, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This method helps curb legal liabilities and heightens workplace safety, offering peace of mind through its comprehensive and accurate drug-screening abilities.

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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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