Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mimosa Park, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a record of alcohol and drug exposure by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair fibers as they grow. When obtained near the scalp, hair samples can reveal approximately a three-month history of alcohol and drug use. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to send for testing.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches and containing about 200 strands, roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil, is needed to obtain 100mg for optimal screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is advisable. It is suggested to measure the hair sample’s weight using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. The term "head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair, while "body hair" refers to other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The principal stages in the laboratory analysis of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample within a laboratory's system. This step verifies the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addresses any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial swift assessment for illicit drugs. While Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug use in most samples, any positive screening requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening necessitate confirmatory testing.

For samples that yield a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted at significantly lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), establishing hair drug screening as the most complex technique to execute.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies are employed to confirm any positive results from Screening. All samples presumed positive are cleaned before confirmation if required. Every phase of the laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation requirements.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, while urine tests have shorter detection capabilities.
• Challenging to circumvent: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, thus ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Historical insight: Offers a pattern of drug usage over time, not just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs typically require 5-7 days to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other methods.
• Result variations: Individual factors like hair color and growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Superiority in Detection
Within Mimosa Park, LA, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests by offering longer detection durations, higher accuracy, and exceptional reliability. Its ability to uncover drug use histories far surpasses that of the conventional urine tests.

Comprehensive Testing
Comparing benefits in Mimosa Park, LA, hair testing is the preferred method due to its longer detection window and tamper-proof nature, which ensures employers receive reliable results, unlike many urine test parameters which are limited in scope.

Extended Detection Window

Prolonged Detection Capability
Hair follicle testing in Mimosa Park, LA, excels with an extended detection window of up to 90 days, allowing employers to assess an individual’s substance use over a significant period and providing a comprehensive history that urine tests cannot match.

Insightful Substance History
For employers in Mimosa Park, LA, wanting a thorough examination of an employee’s or applicant’s drug use, hair follicle tests offer an extended window, capturing usage from the past three months, offering an expansive substance profile.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Reliable Testing
Hair follicle tests in Mimosa Park, LA, are highly tamper-resistant. Their unique collection method makes it immensely challenging to adulterate samples, delivering results that employers and agencies can rely on without question.

Uncompromised Results
In Mimosa Park, LA, employing hair follicle testing drastically lowers the chances of sample tampering. These tests are designed to withstand manipulation, ensuring results remain trustworthy and consistent for every participant.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

National Reach and Local Access
Accredited Drug Testing offers unparalleled convenience with our widespread testing centers, including Mimosa Park, LA. Nationwide and local accessibility ensures that employees can swiftly and easily undertake required drug tests without hassle.

Convenient Testing Solutions
Our presence in Mimosa Park, LA, and across the nation guarantees quick and easy access to testing services. Accredited Drug Testing facilitates a stress-free process for employers needing reliable drug assessment solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplified Testing Procedure
The hair follicle testing process in Mimosa Park, LA, is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From order to results, every step prioritizes privacy and ease, addressing personal data protection during drug testing.

Confidential and Easy Testing
Ensuring confidentiality and simplicity, the testing procedure in Mimosa Park, LA, is seamless and private, accommodating individuals by safeguarding personal information while delivering reliable and hassle-free service.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Valuable Solutions for Companies
Accredited Drug Testing in Mimosa Park, LA, offers affordable pricing and swift turnaround for hair follicle tests. Our competitive pricing structures accommodate businesses of all sizes, providing exceptional value and timely results.

Economical and Efficient
With a focus on affordability, testing facilities in Mimosa Park, LA, offer competitive rates and efficient test processing. Companies receive excellent value and quick results, making it an economic choice for all businesses.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and Quick Results
In Mimosa Park, LA, hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed in detecting substance use. These tests provide high accuracy, enabling rapid detection of any drug exposure, which is crucial for maintaining workplace safety and compliance.

Accurate Detection
The hair follicle testing method is revered for its accuracy. This testing process efficiently identifies drugs with a level of precision that surpasses other testing methods, ensuring credible and dependable results every time.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Workplace Compliance
By employing hair follicle testing in Mimosa Park, LA, companies can ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, reducing potential legal complications, and providing a safer working environment for all employees.

Secure and Compliant
In Mimosa Park, LA, hair follicle testing offers employers peace of mind by ensuring each workforce member complies with the strictest drug-free regulations, mitigating legal risks while enhancing overall workplace safety standards.

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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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