Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Killona, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has evolved into a remarkable approach for identifying substance use. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by encapsulating biomarkers within the fine strands of the growing hair. Obtaining hair samples near the scalp can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively tough to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch portion consisting of around 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for analysis and validation. For EtG, extended panels, and analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. Measuring the sample weight on a jeweler’s scale is recommended. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses any other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core steps in processing drug test results in a laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves preparing a sample for entering into a laboratory’s database. This includes checking that the sample was securely sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and conducting any necessary data input that the electronic chain of custody system does not cover.

Screening comprises an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective means of dismissing drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified for court acceptability. Samples presumed positive in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

For samples identified as presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for preparation in the Extraction step. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), signifying that hair drug screening presents complex challenges.

Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample is cleansed before confirmation if required. The complete laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes examination under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can discern drug use up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which have shorter detection windows.
• Difficulty to cheat: Hair drug tests are notably challenging to deceive, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical data: They reveal a timeline of drug use rather than a record of recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs only become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are usually pricier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Differences in hair color and individual hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly dubbed as "hair follicle tests", these tests scrutinize the hair strands and not the hair follicles beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing is Superior: Hair follicle tests outmatch traditional urine tests with their longer detection periods and tougher tampering obstacles.
Killona, LA prioritizes accuracy and trust in scientific results.

• Extended detection window
• Less susceptible to tampering

Hair tests surpass urine tests by ensuring more accurate and reliable substance use detection over months instead of mere days.

Extended Detection Window

In Killona, LA, hair follicle testing excels due to its Extended Detection Window of up to 90 days.
Employers gain comprehensive insight into an individual's potentially risky substance history.

• Spans months of drug history
• More thorough than short-term tests

This method provides a superior overview compared to alternatives limited to a short detection time.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Killona, LA are known for their Tamper-Resistant Testing Method.
This testing reduces the chance of sample adulteration, offering reliable results.

• Harder to manipulate
• Accurate reflection of substance use

The security provided by this method ensures unquestionable integrity in testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations: National centers, including Killona, LA, offer easy access to our testing services.
Our network assures hassle-free testing for all clients.

• Nationwide locations
• Local accessibility

A vast testing facility network supports your needs across various sites.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Killona, LA, enjoy a Simple, Confidential Process for hair follicle testing.
Prioritizing privacy, the process is straightforward, easing user concerns.

• Secure handling
• Ease of access

Experience a seamless journey from test order to result delivery, ensuring discretion and simplicity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Killona, LA provides Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround on hair follicle drug tests.
Our competitive pricing offers outstanding value and efficiency, supporting businesses of diverse sizes.

• Cost-effective solutions
• Timely results delivery

Confidence in our services comes from strategic pricing and efficient response times.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Killona, LA offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision is unmatched, providing high accuracy in detecting substance use.
Speedy Results: With efficient processing, results are delivered swiftly.

Unparalleled Accuracy: Hair follicle testing minimizes errors, ensuring reliability and offering employers confidence in results.

• Fast Processing
• High Detection Accuracy

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Killona, LA find Compliance and Peace of Mind through hair follicle testing, which ensures adherence to drug-free policies.

• Reduced legal risks
• Enhanced workplace safety

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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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