Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mathews, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now widely regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures biomarkers within the fibers of the extending hair strand, providing a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug intake. When samples are taken close to the scalp, hair analysis can unveil a history of alcohol and other drug consumption spanning up to roughly 3 months. The process of collecting hair is uncomplex, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easily transportable.

Gathering a 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands, equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil, nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, optimal for both screening and conclusive analysis. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, a total of 150mg of the sample is advised. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable volume of body hair is accepted. In the context of head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types of hair (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal stages in laboratory drug test analysis are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a specimen into a lab's workflow. This step includes verifying that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to discount drug use in the majority of specimens, any positive result from Screening must be verified to be admissible in legal settings. Specimens deemed presumptively positive in Screening necessitate subsequent verification.

Should a specimen test presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations than found in alternative methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology to carry out.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug usage back up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Resistant to manipulation: Hair drug testing is extremely hard to deceive, ensuring more precise results.
• Chronological data provided: It can reveal a pattern of drug consumption over time rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be more costly than other prevalent drug screening techniques.
• Result disparities: Factors like hair color and individual variances in hair growth may influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Even though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why choose hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests in Mathews, LA? Hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and unmatched reliability. Unlike urine tests, which can only reveal recent drug use, hair tests provide a broader detection window. This feature allows employers to have a better understanding of an individual's drug use history, ensuring a safer and more compliant workplace.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle drug testing in Mathews, LA allows employers to uncover an individual's drug use over an extended window. With the ability to trace substance use for up to 90 days, it offers a detailed history that urine tests simply can't provide. This comprehensive detection period allows businesses to better assess the long-term behaviors of their staff or potential hires.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Mathews, LA, hair follicle testing provides a tamper-resistant option for drug screening. Unlike other methods, hair testing drastically lowers the chance for sample adulteration, offering reliable results. Its tamper-resistant nature ensures that the results are accurate and trustworthy, making it a preferred choice for sensitive testing requirements.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Mathews, LA, our conveniently located testing centers nationwide provide easy and hassle-free access. Whether you need a quick test in your local area or across the country, our network of facilities is designed to offer seamless services. Each location is equipped to ensure that testing is both swift and straightforward, enhancing user experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Mathews, LA is made simple and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving results, every step is designed with ease and privacy in mind. Individuals and employers alike can trust that their information is handled with care, ensuring efficiency without sacrificing confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Mathews, LA offers hair follicle testing with competitive and affordable pricing. Our pricing structures are designed to cater to companies of all sizes, providing value without compromising quality. Paired with fast turnaround times, employers and individuals benefit from reliable results quickly, ensuring peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Mathews, LA, the precision and rapid outcomes of hair follicle drug tests are unmatched. These tests boast high accuracy in detecting substance use, giving reliable results efficiently. Their capability to detect past drug use with remarkable precision and speed makes them an ideal choice for employers and individuals concerned about accurate testing results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Mathews, LA can maintain compliance and enjoy peace of mind through hair follicle testing. This method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal uncertainties and promoting a safe environment. Employers can be reassured that their drug screening processes meet industry standards and foster a secure workplace.

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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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