Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ossun, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as a significant method for detecting the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair archives a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the strands' fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug presence for up to about three months. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively tough to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, add-ons, and/ or over 10-panel tests, a 150mg specimen is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the specimen on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, the same quantity of body hair can be obtained. Head hair references pertain solely to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processes in drug testing consist of four core steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the sample’s initial handling into the laboratory system. This process ensures the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial assessment for substance use. Although it offers an economical approach to eliminate drug usage for most samples, positive screenings require subsequent confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples showing presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

For samples with presumptive positives in the Screening phase, further hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening the most challenging method.

Confirmation of any positive screening is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation as required. Throughout the process from Accessioning to Confirmation, both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards apply.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection timeline.
• Elimination of deceit: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: It offers a historical view of drug usage, extending beyond recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of confirming recent use: Detection in hair occurs roughly 5-7 days after drug intake.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other methods.
• Outcome variability: Factors like hair color and growth variations can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests", this test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Ossun, LA, surpasses urine testing with superior detection capabilities. By examining hair, it provides accurate insights into an individual’s drug use history.

Compared to urine tests, hair tests in Ossun offer a better clarity due to their extended detection window. This accuracy helps employers better screen job applicants.

Ossun employers prefer hair testing, as it outshines urine testing with reliable results. This fosters a safer workplace environment.

Extended Detection Window

In Ossun, LA, hair follicle testing detects drug use over an extended period. With a window of up to 90 days, it gives employers a thorough view of potential substance abuse.

The comprehensive detection window of hair testing offers Ossun businesses insight beyond recent use, helping in evaluating long-term substance habits.

Ossun employers gain a full understanding of an employee's drug history with hair follicle testing’s 90-day detection period.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Ossun, LA, significantly reduces tampering risks. Its reliable and verifiable results make it ideal for employees and legal cases.

Unlike other tests, hair samples are harder to adulterate in Ossun, ensuring credibility. This security measure strengthens confidence in testing outcomes.

Employers and courts trust Ossun's hair tests over easily manipulated traditional methods, enhancing security and result integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Ossun, LA, offers convenient access to drug testing through numerous local and nationwide centers. This provides ease and readiness for all testing needs.

The broad network of testing locations ensures Ossun residents can quickly access tests, making the process seamless.

Accessing hair follicle tests in Ossun is simple and hassle-free, supported by a wide array of locations.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Ossun, LA, the process for hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential. It ensures privacy from ordering to results.

Taking a hair follicle test in Ossun is simple, maintaining confidentiality at every step for peace of mind.

Ossun clients benefit from a hassle-free, discrete process that emphasizes ease and privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Ossun, LA, offers competitive pricing on hair follicle tests, guaranteeing quick turnaround and value for businesses of all sizes.

The affordable structure of hair testing prices in Ossun ensures efficient results without sacrificing quality.

Businesses in Ossun find cost-effective solutions through affordable hair testing, ensuring high value alongside speed.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Ossun, LA, hair follicle testing offers precision with speed and reliability. Unlike traditional tests, these provide high accuracy in substance detection, making them indispensable for quick identification of use.

The accuracy of hair follicle tests ensures reliable results. They deliver fast and precise information, helping to make informed decisions about substance use and employment.

Employers in Ossun can trust hair testing for timely and accurate results. This enhances workplace safety by identifying substance use with confidence.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Ossun, LA, ensures compliance with workplace drug policies, minimizing legal risks.

This testing method provides Ossun employers peace of mind by enhancing safety and promoting a drug-free environment.

Ossun businesses benefit from hair testing by maintaining policy compliance and improving organizational security.

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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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