Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Logansport, LA

What it is, How it works

Seen as a robust method for identifying alcohol and drug use, hair testing offers a prolonged history by embedding biomarkers in the strands as hair grows. When gathered near the scalp, it can give a detection window of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, hard to adulterate, and simple to mail.

An ideal sample for analysis includes a 1.5-inch cut of about 200 hair strands (the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp totaling 100mg. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. Use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is missing, a comparable amount of body hair may be taken. "Head hair" means scalp hair, and "Body hair" indicates all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory undertaking of drug test results includes four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample first enters the lab system. This step confirms proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and finishes any extra data entry unfulfilled by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as a rapid preliminary check for substance abuse. Although it's a budget-friendly method to dismiss drug use in most samples, a screening test's positive result necessitates a subsequent confirmation for legal acceptance. Samples showing a potential positive in Screening must undergo an additional validation.

A presumptive positive in Screening means more hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are retrieved from hair at much lower concentrations than via other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug testing as the most challenging technique to execute.

Positive screenings are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Samples that might test positive go through required washing prior to Confirmation. Every step of the lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, while urine tests provide a briefer window.
• Authenticity: Cheating a hair drug test is very tough, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Sheds light on historical consumption: It illustrates a drug use pattern over time, beyond recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Not suitable for detecting recent usage: Drugs take about 5-7 days to show in hair.
• Price: Hair drug tests are usually costlier than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Hair color and individual growth patterns can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Even though termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Logansport, LA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests with its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests are more effective at identifying long-term substance use.

Hair follicle tests provide a broader detection window, capturing drug use over several months, whereas urine tests are limited to recent substance intake.

The tamper-resistant nature of hair testing ensures higher reliability, minimizing the risk of sample adulteration and ensuring authentic results.

Employers benefit from hair follicle testing's ability to accurately depict an applicant's or employee's drug use history, enhancing both selection and monitoring processes.

Extended Detection Window

Logansport, LA benefits from the extensive detection window of hair follicle tests, enabling employers to see a comprehensive drug use history over up to 90 days.

This extended timeline allows employers to examine an applicant's or employee's substance use behavior more thoroughly, aiding informed decisions.

Extended detection provides a broader view of an individual's drug history, offering valuable insights into patterns that shorter-term tests might miss.

Being able to review up to 90 days of drug activity helps highlight consistent patterns and ensures a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Logansport, LA minimizes the risk of tampered results by offering a method that's resistant to adulteration, ensuring reliability.

This method's design makes it nearly impossible to manipulate, safeguarding the integrity of the test and ensuring the results are unquestionable.

The collection and testing process prevent adulteration, providing results that stakeholders can trust for accuracy and dependability.

The stringent testing process in hair follicle assessments ensures that results are credible and free from tampering concerns.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient test centers nationwide, including Logansport, LA, we provide quick and accessible testing solutions for hair follicle screenings.

Our nationwide network ensures easy access to testing, reducing the stress and logistics often associated with drug testing procedures.

Testing in Logansport is straightforward due to nearby facilities, streamlining the process for organizations and individuals alike.

Local and nationwide centers offer flexibility and convenience, ensuring smooth testing experiences devoid of geographical constraints.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Logansport, LA, we ensure the drug testing process is both simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns for all involved in the hair follicle testing procedure.

Our straightforward procedures make ordering and taking tests stress-free, ensuring ease of use while maintaining high confidentiality standards.

The process from test order to receiving results is designed to be hassle-free, safeguarding the individual's privacy throughout.

By prioritizing confidentiality and simplicity, we ensure that all testing rituals, from scheduling to results revelation, are handled securely.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Logansport, LA, our competitive pricing and fast processing times for hair follicle tests provide excellent value, catering to companies of varying sizes.

Our efficient turnaround ensures prompt delivery of results, critical for time-sensitive decisions and evaluations in corporate environments.

Cost-effective pricing models appeal to businesses seeking reliable testing without financial strain, offering peace of mind economically.

Providing quick, affordable services, we meet the needs of organizations seeking quality testing without compromising financial plans.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests offer fast, precise, and dependable results in Logansport, LA. These tests excel in accuracy, swiftly pinpointing substance use with remarkable reliability.

Precision is a hallmark of hair testing, ensuring that results accurately reflect drug use history. This method's reliability provides assurance that the data received is trustworthy.

Speedy processing of hair follicle samples allows rapid turnaround times, beneficial for timely decision-making in various settings.

The efficiency of hair follicle testing ensures that accurate results are delivered swiftly, maintaining the integrity and reliability sought by many employers.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Logansport, LA achieve compliance with drug-free policies by utilizing hair follicle testing, reducing legal risks while promoting safer workplaces.

This testing method helps maintain adherence to regulations, providing peace of mind for companies striving to uphold strict drug-free standards.

By incorporating hair follicle testing, organizations showcase their commitment to workplace safety and compliance with established drug policies.

Employers gain assurance through reliable testing that reinforces workplace policy adherence, mitigating potential legal liabilities.

Drug Testing Near Logansport, LA

Keithville, LA

Frierson, LA

Mitchell, LA

Naborton, LA

Carmel, LA

Kingston, LA

South Mansfield, LA

Mansfield, LA

Benson, LA

Keatchie, LA

Keachi, LA

Grand Cane, LA

Longstreet, LA

Stanley, LA

Funston, LA

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews