Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lemannville, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, it can provide a detection window of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising about 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests beyond 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar amount of body hair may be collected. When referencing head hair, it pertains strictly to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning refers to the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This process involves ensuring that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial rapid test for substances of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be acceptable in court. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction stage. Here, drugs are removed from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the toughest methodology to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples showing presumptive positive results are washed before confirmation if necessary. The entire procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation 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 window.
• Hard to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Historically insightful: It can reflect a timeline of drug use, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs typically become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: While often referred to as "hair follicle tests," the test itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Lemannville, LA

• Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing offers superior detection accuracy, achieving reliable results that withstand scrutiny.

Employers favor this method for its thorough examination and ability to detect long-term drug use. Hair tests outshine urine tests by providing a clearer picture of an individual's substance history over extended periods.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Lemannville, LA

• Hair follicle testing distinctly outpaces other methods with an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This timeframe allows employers to gain insights into prospective or current employee drug use habits.

This prolonged window empowers organizations with the information necessary to make informed employment decisions, enhancing workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Lemannville, LA

• Hair follicle tests are fundamentally tamper-resistant, significantly lowering the risk of sample adulteration.

The complexity of cheating this method ensures results provide authentic insights into an individual's substance use, instilling trust in the testing process and maintaining its reliability and validity across all settings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Lemannville, LA

• Navigating the challenge of arranging drug tests becomes effortless with our nationwide and local centers.

Lemannville residents benefit from quick, hassle-free access to testing services, ensuring effective implementation of necessary protocols without geographical limitations.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Lemannville, LA

• Simplicity and confidentiality stand at the forefront of our hair follicle testing process, safeguarding privacy at every stage.

From ordering to receiving results, the system is designed for ease and security, relieving concerns and enhancing user confidence regarding sensitive information handling.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Lemannville, LA

• Our pricing strategy ensures affordability across the board without sacrificing quality or speed.

With rapid turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing offers undeniable value, providing peace of mind and economic efficiency for organizations bracing for comprehensive substance testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Lemannville, LA

• Hair follicle drug tests promise a level of accuracy and expedience unachievable with older methods. Analysis of hair samples reveals substance misuse with remarkable precision, offering dependable outcomes.

Clients in Lemannville appreciate results delivered promptly, aiding rapid decision-making processes with unwavering trust in test integrity.

• Reduced chances of false positives and negatives further bolster trust.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Lemannville, LA

• Employers striving for compliance with stringent drug-free policies find solace in hair follicle testing's robust framework.

This method lessens legal risks, promotes workplace safety, and upholds policy integrity, all while maintaining employee trust and organizational peace.

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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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