Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lockport Heights, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments are increasingly regarded as a robust means for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair reveals an extended history of substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. Samples gathered near the scalp can offer up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A section of 1.5 inches comprising approximately 200 hairs (equivalent to the size of a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg is advisable. A jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair is suitable. The term head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key phases in processing a drug test result in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the fundamental processing of a sample into a lab's system, which includes ensuring the sample’s seal and proper shipment, issuing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing data not entered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial swift assessment for substance abuse. Though Screening is economical to rule out drug usage for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for court validity. Presumptive positives in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

For samples that test presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from the hair at a lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, presumptive positive samples are cleansed as necessary. The sequential process from Accessioning through Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests identify drug use up to 90 days, contrasting with shorter detection durations of urine tests.
• Cheating is challenging: The challenge in deceiving a hair drug test enhances result accuracy.
• Chronological information: It provides a timeline of drug consumption over a prolonged period, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Recent use undetectable: There's a 5-7 day period before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair testing incurs higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite being termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis concerns the hair strand rather than the sub-scalp hair follicle

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine tests in Lockport Heights, LA, hair testing shows superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests offer a broader detection window and are more challenging to adulterate, providing a more reliable insight into an individual's substance use history.

• Enhanced Detection Accuracy
• Reliable Results
• Low Adulteration Risk

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Lockport Heights, LA, allows for detecting drug use over extended periods, up to 90 days. This comprehensive detection window provides employers with a clearer view of an applicant or employee's past drug use, contributing to informed hiring and retention decisions.

• Up to 90 Days Detection
• Comprehensive Substance History
• Informed Decision Making

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Lockport Heights, LA, offer a tamper-resistant method for drug testing, significantly lowering the risk of sample adulteration. This integrity ensures that results are reliable and trustworthy for both employers and individuals relying on accurate assessments.

• Tamper-Resistant
• Reliable Results
• Trustworthy Testing

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our convenient nationwide and local testing locations in Lockport Heights, LA, make access to drug testing services hassle-free. With multiple centers, individuals can quickly get tested without long waits, making the process seamless and efficient.

• Nationwide Access
• Local Convenience
• Quick Testing Process

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lockport Heights, LA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed to respect privacy and offer ease of use, catering to concerns regarding confidentiality and simplicity.

• Simple Process
• Confidential Handling
• User-Friendly

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Lockport Heights, LA, benefits from Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround times for hair follicle tests, offering excellent value to companies of any size. Our competitive pricing and rapid results ensure that businesses get high-quality testing services without breaking the bank.

• Competitive Pricing
• Fast Turnaround
• Great Value

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Lockport Heights, LA, are renowned for their precision and expediency, offering high accuracy in detecting substance use. This testing method ensures rapid and reliable results, making it an ideal choice for those needing fast and accurate assessments of drug use.

• High Accuracy
• Rapid Results
• Reliable Testing

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Lockport Heights, LA, benefit from hair follicle testing as it ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This reduces legal risks and fosters a safer working environment, giving employers peace of mind and promoting a healthy workplace culture.

• Ensures Compliance
• Reduces Legal Risks
• Promotes 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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