Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lydia, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a significant tool for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair archives a comprehensive history of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When procured near the scalp, hair can deliver a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and various drugs. Hair is easy to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to ship.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 strands of hair (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. We suggest weighing the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not obtainable, a proportional quantity of body hair may be used. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four essential steps employed in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary treatment of a sample into a lab’s system. This entails ensuring the sample was adequately sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary swift assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening offers a budget-friendly method to eliminate drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be validated to be permissible in legal proceedings. Any samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening need additional confirmation.

If a sample is preliminarily positive in the Screening stage, more hair is removed from the initial sample and made ready for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are withdrawn from hair at a much lower concentration than other methodologies (ex. urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the toughest methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation if required. The whole laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection duration.
• Challenging to deceive: It's exceedingly challenging to mislead a hair drug test, which makes the results more reliable.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent usage: Drugs require about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the test in actuality examines the hair strand instead of the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle tests with traditional urine tests in Lydia, LA, highlights the advantages in detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests offer an extended detection window of up to 90 days, ensuring a comprehensive assessment.

While urine tests are suitable for recent drug use detection, hair testing provides a broader historical view, making it a superior choice for employers and professionals who prioritize thoroughness.

Extended Detection Window

In Lydia, LA, hair follicle testing is advanced in its ability to detect drug use over extended periods, up to 90 days. This longer detection window allows for a more complete understanding of a person's substance use history.

Employers benefit from this detailed historical data, as it offers insights into an applicant's or employee's long-term habits, crucial for making informed employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Lydia, LA, significantly reduce the risk of tampering, presenting an almost foolproof method for substance detection. The testing process minimizes the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring reliable results.

This security in sample integrity provides organizations with confidence that the outcomes are trustworthy and that any potential substance use is genuinely detected.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key in Lydia, LA, with our nationwide testing centers facilitating seamless access to hair follicle testing. Quick and effortless service is ensured through strategically located facilities across the country.

Local testing locations in Lydia offer residents easy access without the hassle of traveling far, catering to both individual and corporate testing needs with efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lydia, LA, the hair follicle testing process is designed with simplicity and confidentiality in mind. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is straightforward and respects privacy concerns.

This simplified approach reassures individuals, allowing them to undergo testing without undue stress or worry about the protection of their personal information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and fast turnaround times in Lydia, LA, make hair follicle tests a smart choice for businesses. Affordable options contribute to cost-effective solutions for drug testing requirements.

Employers of all sizes benefit from the value these tests provide, ensuring that companies can maintain high standards without exceeding their budgetary constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Lydia, LA, provide fast and reliable results, accurately detecting substance use. Due to their high precision, these tests have become essential for ensuring trustworthy outcomes in drug screening processes.

With the ability to deliver quick results, hair follicle testing stands out as a highly effective method for identifying past substance use. This ensures that individuals and employers receive the most accurate information available.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Lydia, LA, grants employers peace of mind, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies and reducing legal liabilities. The thoroughness of hair testing upholds workplace safety and order.

With robust testing protocols, organizations can confidently enforce their substance use policies, knowing they have comprehensive and reliable detection methods at their disposal.

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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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