Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kingston, LA

What it is, How it works

Considering its efficacy, hair testing is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands encapsulate a prolonged account of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected from near the scalp, this method provides a detection timeframe of up to approximately three months for both alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimum amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to use 150mg of hair. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be utilized. By noting head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair comprises all other types (including facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four major phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step of processing a sample into a laboratory’s system. This involves confirming the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry if required, excluding what an electronic chain of custody system provides.

Screening innately conducts a swift examination for drugs of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in the majority of samples, any positive screen demands confirmation to be admissible in court. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

Suppose a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening. In that case, further hair is extracted from the initial sample, preparing it for the Extraction phase, where drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate methodology.

Confirming any positive screening result is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation when required. The laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny complying with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection span: Hair drug testing can identify drug usage over 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• Cheating resilience: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, ensuring more precise results.
• Historical insight: It can reveal a drug usage pattern over time, rather than just current use.

Limitations:

• Recent use detection limitation: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often costlier compared to other methods.
• Variable outcomes: Elements like hair color and individual growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," this test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Kingston, LA, surpasses traditional urine testing by offering more reliable and accurate detection. Hair testing provides a broader window of detection, capturing drug use up to 90 days prior, something urine tests cannot match. This extended detection range makes hair tests the preferred choice for ensuring comprehensive substance history assessments, ultimately providing superior accuracy and peace of mind in testing results.

Extended Detection Window

In Kingston, LA, hair follicle testing is favored for its extensive detection period for drug use, up to 90 days. This prolonged window provides employers with a thorough understanding of an individual's substance use history. Unlike other methods, hair testing offers a historical perspective on drug use, granting employers the capacity to make informed decisions regarding current employees or potential hires based on reliable substance use data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug tests conducted in Kingston, LA, offer a tamper-resistant approach to drug screening. The difficulty of altering or contaminating hair samples ensures the integrity of results, making this method nearly impossible to cheat. This reliability shields the process from fraudulent activities, maintaining an authentic and trustworthy assessment, crucial for both employers enforcing drug policies and legal authorities seeking credible test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers strategically positioned across the nation, including Kingston, LA, we ensure accessible service wherever you are. Our widespread network of facilities makes it straightforward for individuals and employers to avail testing services seamlessly. By prioritizing convenience and quick access to hair follicle testing, we simplify the process, supporting timely and stress-free drug screening for varied needs and requirements.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Kingston, LA, is both simple and confidential, catering to those with privacy concerns. From ordering the test to receiving results, the streamlined procedure ensures confidentiality is maintained throughout. This careful handling enhances trust and eases the users' experience, giving assurances of discretion while providing accurate drug test outcomes swiftly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times in Kingston, LA, our hair follicle testing services present significant value for businesses of all sizes. Our cost-effective approach ensures that quality testing is accessible without compromising on speed of results. Clients can expect affordable, reliable service and expedient delivery of accurate results, reinforcing confidence and reliability in their workplace drug testing programs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Kingston, LA, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their swift and accurate results. Known for their high precision, these tests efficiently detect recent substance use with reliability. The advanced technique ensures that individuals undergoing testing receive prompt outcomes, supporting informed decisions and peace of mind. Employers gain invaluable insight, guaranteeing a drug-free workplace environment with fast turnarounds.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Kingston, LA, ensures regulatory compliance and instills peace of mind for employers. By maintaining a drug-free work environment, companies can significantly reduce potential legal liabilities. Hair testing's accurate detection capabilities help enforce workplace policies efficiently, leading to enhanced safety and security for both employers and employees. This method promotes trust, safety, and adherence to necessary standards.

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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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