Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Long Bridge, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for detecting alcohol and drug use. Hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and substance intake by embedding biomarkers within the fiber of the expanding hair strand. When hair is clipped close to the scalp, it can reveal up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, comparatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample length of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 strands of hair (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and verification. An amount of 150mg is advisable for EtG, supplemental, and/or over 10-panel tests. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair may be gathered. By head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, and the like).

Process Overview

The four principal stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the primary input of a sample into the lab’s system. This encompasses checking that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any remaining data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drug consumption on most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court validity. Any samples that are tentatively positive in Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.

If a sample is indicated as positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence hair drug screening is the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentative positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is vetted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair framework and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 guidelines.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Challenge to deceive: With hair drug tests, manipulation is very difficult, increasing result reliability.
• Yields historical insights: It offers an overview of drug use patterns across a timeline, not confined to recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to ascertain recent use: It requires around 5-7 days before drugs become visible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual diversity in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the technique analyzes the hair strand and does not involve the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Long Bridge, LA
In this region, hair testing surpasses urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair samples provide a more extended detection window, uncovering substance use history better than urine samples. This method is favored by employers with stringent drug-free policies, offering a more trustworthy assessment of an individual’s behavior.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Long Bridge, LA
Hair follicle tests offer a substantial advantage with their long detection window, capturing up to 90 days of drug use history. This extended timeframe provides employers a detailed view, aiding in informed decision-making regarding hiring or current employee assessments. This surpasses the capabilities of traditional methods, positioning it as a crucial tool for thorough substance history analysis.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Long Bridge, LA
The robustness of hair testing significantly diminishes the potential for sample tampering. Its design ensures results remain credible and uncontested, a critical requirement for maintaining integrity in testing processes. This reliability ensures trust from both employers and individuals, supporting a fair evaluation environment.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Long Bridge, LA
The extensive network of Accredited Testing centers facilitates easy access to testing services, be it nationwide or locally in Long Bridge. This multitude of locations ensures individuals and employers can secure testing promptly, providing unparalleled convenience and ensuring seamless integration into compliance and hiring protocols.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Long Bridge, LA
The straightforward procedure for engaging in hair follicle testing addresses privacy and usability concerns efficiently. From ordering to process completion, everything is handled with confidentiality, allowing users to undergo testing with assurance and ease, free from complexity and stress.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Long Bridge, LA
The competitive pricing and swift turnaround times of hair follicle drug tests provide excellent value. Catering to businesses of all sizes, these tests not only represent cost-efficiency but also promise peace of mind, ensuring companies receive timely and precise testing outcomes without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Long Bridge, LA
Hair follicle drug testing ensures swift and precise outcomes. In Long Bridge, these tests are renowned for their remarkable accuracy, effectively detecting substance use. The advanced technology employed in this testing guarantees reliable results, meeting the demands of employers and legal entities seeking trustworthy evidence of drug consumption.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Long Bridge, LA
Implementing hair follicle tests guarantees adherence to workplace drug-free standards, reducing legal exposure and enhancing workplace security. Employers gain peace of mind, assured that their policies are firmly supported by reliable testing that upholds compliance and security within their operations.

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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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