Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kolin, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and other drugs by encapsulating biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When taken from near the scalp, hair provides approximately a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch snippet of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to gather 150mg of the sample. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This process ensures the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary quick test for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly method to rule out drug usage in most samples, any positive finding must be corroborated to be legally valid. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening must undergo further confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of conducting hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive Screening finding is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to subvert: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outshines urine testing in several ways in Kolin, LA. For starters, its detection accuracy surpasses traditional urine tests, ensuring comprehensive insight into an individual's substance history.

Unlike urine tests, which detect only recent drug use, hair tests provide a broader timeframe, capturing months of drug activity. This feature gives employers a fuller understanding of potential employees.

The reliability of hair testing stems from its extensive detection window and tamper-proof nature, positioning it as the superior choice for meticulous drug screening needs.

Extended Detection Window

In Kolin, LA, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, capable of revealing drug use over a span of up to 90 days. This prolonged timeframe gives employers a detailed view of an employee or applicant's substance history.

The long detection duration is particularly advantageous for businesses striving for a drug-free workplace. It helps in making informed decisions based on comprehensive data.

By covering a wider detection window, hair follicle tests become a preferred method for strict workplace policies and critical hiring processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Kolin, LA, are tamper-resistant, significantly reducing the risk of sample adulteration. This robust method ensures that test results are reliable and unquestionable.

The security of hair tests lies in their collected nature, making it exceedingly difficult for subjects to manipulate outcomes. This integrity grants peace of mind to employers.

With manipulation minimized, hair testing stands as a trustworthy option for ensuring drug-free environments in sensitive workplaces.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Kolin, LA, make hair follicle testing easily accessible. Accredited Drug Testing's centers ensure quick, easy, and hassle-free service.

Our widespread locations allow individuals and businesses to access testing without inconvenience. This network guarantees that hair testing is available when and where it's needed.

By offering local testing sites, we ensure that drug screening is streamlined, providing seamless access for clients seeking reliable solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

At Kolin, LA, we offer a simple, confidential process for hair follicle testing. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is straightforward and designed with privacy in mind.

Clients can confidently choose hair testing knowing that their information is secure. Our discreet handling builds trust and reinforces confidentiality.

This simplicity ensures that both individuals and organizations smoothly integrate testing into their routines without privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Kolin, LA, promotes affordable pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle tests. Our competitive pricing structure ensures that businesses of all sizes benefit.

Quick turnaround times are crucial for employers needing prompt results. We balance cost-effectiveness with efficiency to serve our clients' needs.

The combination of affordability and swift results offers excellent value, reassuring companies seeking reliable drug testing alternatives.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Kolin, LA, provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests are known for their precision and speed in detecting substance use. Unlike other methods, hair testing ensures a higher level of accuracy that professionals trust for comprehensive drug screening.

The streamlined process not only delivers results swiftly but also maintains scientific integrity. This reliability makes it an ideal choice for employers and individuals alike.

With state-of-the-art technology, hair tests analyze a wider spectrum of substances efficiently. The results are dependable, offering a clear picture of one's drug use history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Kolin, LA, provides compliance and peace of mind for employers. By adhering to drug-free workplace policies, businesses mitigate legal risks and enhance safety.

Hair testing supports consistency, helping employers to implement zero-tolerance policies effectively. Such measures ensure stable and secure work atmospheres.

Emphasizing drug policy compliance, this testing approach reduces liability concerns while fostering a reliable and safer working environment.

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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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