Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Longville, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a history of substances over time by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of its growth. When clipped close to the scalp, it can reveal up to a three-month history of consumption for both alcohol and drugs. This method is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch section comprising approximately 200 strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) from near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests extending beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It's best to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a similar amount of body hair can be substituted. When mentioning head hair, it refers solely to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (such as facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The four key stages in the laboratory procedure for a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In Accessioning, samples are initially registered into the lab's system. This consists of ensuring that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and conducting any additional data input not supplied by an electronic custody chain system.

Screening conducts a preliminary inspection for substance abuse. Although this stage economically filters out drug usage for most cases, any positive findings must be verified for legal acceptance. Samples that show initial positive results in Screening require further confirmation.

If a specimen tests positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the existing sample and processed for Extraction. In this phase, the drugs are extracted from the hair at significantly lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screens the most complex to execute.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques confirm any positive findings from Screening. Samples with presumptive positive results are washed before confirmation, as necessary. The complete laboratory steps from Accessioning to Confirmation are examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and are certified to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug screens identify drug usage up to 90 days, a longer interval compared to urine tests.
• Resistance to tampering: Manipulating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing result reliability.
• Shows use patterns: This method reveals consumption tendencies over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Incapable of showing recent intake: Detection takes approximately 5-7 days post-ingestion.
• Higher costs: Generally, hair drug assessments are pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Differences in hair color and growth rates can influence metabolite concentrations.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the examination targets the hair strand itself, not the underlying follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing
In Longville, LA, hair follicle testing stands out due to its superior detection capabilities compared to traditional urine tests. While urine tests are limited to detecting recent drug use, hair tests extend their detection window significantly, making them more reliable for identifying habitual use. Moreover, hair tests are difficult to adulterate, providing more trustworthy results.

The increased accuracy and reliability of hair follicle tests make them the preferred choice for employers and authorities committed to stringent drug-free policies. By opting for hair testing, organizations in Longville, LA, ensure they have the most comprehensive screening tool available.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window
One of the major benefits of hair follicle testing in Longville, LA, is its ability to detect drug use over an extended timeframe, up to 90 days. This comprehensive look into an individual’s substance history is invaluable for employers who need to ensure a safe and compliant workplace environment. By choosing hair testing, you gain insight into long-term patterns rather than just short-term use.

With a much longer detection window than urine tests, hair follicle testing provides a more complete profile of an individual’s drug use history. This feature is particularly advantageous for employers and organizations aiming to make well-informed decisions based on an applicant or employee’s true history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method
Hair follicle tests in Longville, LA, greatly mitigate the risk of sample tampering. Unlike urine tests, hair samples are collected under observation, rendering them nearly impossible to adulterate. This ensures the integrity of the sample, providing results that are reliable and credible, thus assuring stakeholders of an accurate assessment.

Reliability in drug testing is paramount, and hair follicle testing offers that security. By reducing potential manipulation, it provides peace of mind that the tests are conclusive and represent an individual’s true substance use history.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide and Local Locations
Accredited Drug Testing offers easily accessible hair follicle testing across numerous nationwide centers, including convenient options in Longville, LA. These strategic locations ensure that testing services are available quickly and efficiently, reducing logistical challenges. By choosing us, clients experience a streamlined, hassle-free testing process.

Our extensive network supports prompt service, affording individuals and employers a convenient choice for their testing needs. This location advantage fosters a seamless experience, ensuring timely and reliable access to testing with minimal delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process
Our hair follicle testing service in Longville, LA, guarantees a simple, confidential approach from start to finish. Ordering, providing, and receiving test results are designed to respect privacy and ease-of-use, addressing any concerns of confidentiality. With a straightforward procedure, clients feel assured and comfortable throughout the process.

Privacy remains paramount, and our secure systems ensure that personal information is handled discreetly. Opting for hair testing provides peace of mind with a confidential approach to identifying substance use accurately.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround
Accredited Drug Testing in Longville, LA, is dedicated to offering competitive pricing paired with rapid turnaround times. By providing cost-effective solutions, we cater to companies of all sizes, ensuring they receive high value and speedy results. This affordability coupled with efficiency ensures peace of mind for workplace drug policies.

Quick and accurate test processing means businesses can swiftly act on results, reducing downtime and maintaining productivity. Our commitment to value and speed makes hair testing a smart investment for any organization.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results
Hair follicle drug tests in Longville, LA, offer unparalleled precision and speed. This method's high accuracy ensures the detection of substance use effectively, letting you rely on the results for crucial decision-making. With quick processing times, get the answers you need fast, so you can maintain a drug-free environment without delay.

Employers and authorities trust hair follicle testing to deliver dependable results swiftly. This efficiency is crucial in situations where time is of the essence. You can be confident that hair drug tests provide a streamlined and accurate assessment with minimal waiting time.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers
Utilizing hair follicle tests in Longville, LA, assists employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies. This method’s extended detection window and tamper-resistance align perfectly with maintaining compliance and minimizing legal risks. Employers benefit from enhanced workplace safety and assurance that policies are effectively enforced.

By incorporating hair testing into drug screening protocols, employers demonstrate commitment to safety and compliance. This proactive approach reduces incidents and legal challenges, promoting a harmonious and productive work environment.

Drug Testing Near Longville, LA

Merryville, LA

Sugartown, LA

Mittie, LA

Perkins, LA

Ludington, LA

De Ridder, LA

DeRidder, LA

DeQuincy, LA

Oretta, LA

Dry Creek, LA

Juanita, LA

Singer, LA

Ragley, 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