Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Oil City, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective means of detecting substance and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended record of substance use by capturing markers within the hair's growing fibers. When collected from near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use up to roughly a three-month period. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg, which is optimal for evaluation and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It's recommended to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be collected. Here, head hair denotes scalp hair alone, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The sequence of steps involved in the lab analysis of a drug test comprises Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial procedure of registering a sample into a lab's system. This step involves validating proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any extra data entry not provided electronically by a chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial swift assessment for substance abuse. Although Screening provides a cost-efficient method to discard drug usage in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid for legal proceedings. Any samples that are tentatively positive during Screening necessitate a secondary verification.

If a sample tests tentatively positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and set for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than via other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), contributing to hair drug screening's complexity.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentatively positive samples are cleansed as needed before confirmation. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Pros of hair drug analysis:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can report drug consumption for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: It is exceedingly challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Offers historical insight: It can display a drug use pattern over an extended duration, beyond just recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Unable to detect recent usage: It generally takes about 5-7 days for substances to appear detectable in hair.
• Price: Hair drug tests are often more costly than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the levels of drug metabolites in the hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Oil City, LA is evident in its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike conventional urine tests, hair tests delve deeper, offering a more extensive overview of an individual's substance use. The enhanced accuracy ensures better compliance with strict drug-free policies, providing peace of mind for employers and effective measures against substance misuse.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Oil City, LA is renowned for its extended detection window of up to 90 days. This prolonged period allows employers to acquire a comprehensive view of an individual’s drug history. By analyzing hair samples, companies can identify long-term substance use patterns, leading to more informed decisions regarding applicant or employee suitability.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the primary advantages of hair follicle tests in Oil City, LA is their tamper-resistant nature. This method significantly minimizes the potential for sample adulteration, ensuring results are reliable and beyond dispute. Employers can trust that the integrity of the testing process remains intact, reinforcing their commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing locations, including coverage in Oil City, LA, Accredited Drug Testing provides quick and easy access to services. This extensive network simplifies the testing process, allowing individuals and businesses to undergo necessary tests without hassle. The accessibility ensures that clients are never far from a trusted testing center.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Oil City, LA, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, the procedure is designed to be user-friendly while upholding strict privacy standards. Clients can feel secure knowing their information is protected throughout the process, ensuring peace of mind at every step.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Oil City, LA offers affordable pricing and fast turnaround. Our competitive pricing structures ensure excellent value for businesses of all sizes, while the quick return of results allows companies to proceed without unnecessary delays. This combination of cost-effectiveness and efficiency underscores our commitment to client satisfaction.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Oil City, LA, the hair follicle drug testing process guarantees fast, accurate, and reliable results. With the capacity to detect a diverse array of substances, it stands out for its exceptional precision and speed. The hair test's comprehensive nature ensures it can uncover substance use that might elude other testing methods, providing a trustworthy solution for both employers and individuals.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

The use of hair follicle testing in Oil City, LA ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers. Adhering to workplace drug policies becomes streamlined, mitigating legal risks and enhancing workplace safety. Employers benefit from the assurance that their teams operate in an environment that prioritizes health and well-being, free from substance-related disruptions.

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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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