Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Robert, LA

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance involvement by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair strand's growing fibers. When directly gathered from near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period reaching roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to adulterate, and simple to transport.

Acquiring a 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil) from close to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to have 150mg of the sample. We suggest measuring the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair only. Body hair denotes all other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test incorporates four critical steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample into a laboratory's system, ensuring the sample is properly sealed and transported, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial prompt inspection for signs of drug abuse. Screening presents a cost-effective means to exclude substance use in most samples, yet a positive screen requires verification to be acceptable in judicial proceedings. Examples exhibiting a presumptive positive in Screening must have secondary confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen to prepare for Extraction. This phase involves isolating drugs from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is accomplished using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation, if necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can verify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter duration.
• Difficulty to falsify: It is exceedingly hard to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insights: It offers an outline of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Unable to trace recent usage: Detection in hair takes about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other methods.
• Result inconsistencies: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences might alter drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly 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 Robert, LA Hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched detection accuracy and reliability compared to traditional urine tests. Unlike urine tests, hair analyses can reveal drug use over a much longer window, making them a superior choice for employers seeking detailed substance use history.

Employers favor the consistent and reliable results of hair testing, which minimizes the chances of adulteration and strengthens the foundation for a drug-free work environment.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Robert, LA. Hair follicle testing provides an extensive detection window, revealing drug use over a period that can extend up to 90 days. This comprehensive overview aids employers in evaluating an employee’s substance history with precision.

The lengthy detection window of hair testing allows for a more thorough understanding of historical drug use, a feature not matched by other testing methods, thereby assisting in informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Robert, LA. Hair follicle tests are highly resistant to tampering, significantly curtailing the risk of sample adulteration. This robust defense ensures that results are trustworthy and undisputed, reinforcing testing integrity.

This testing method's resistance to deceitful tactics enhances employer confidence in the results, ensuring they reflect true substance use history.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Robert, LA. With widespread testing centers, accessing hair follicle testing services is effortless and efficient. This expansive network offers quick and hassle-free testing solutions to suit various needs.

Local access to testing services ensures timely and convenient handling of testing requirements, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Robert, LA. The process for hair follicle testing is straightforward and private, safeguarding individuals' privacy while being easy to navigate from ordering to result reception.

The confidentiality of the hair testing process ensures users feel secure and respected, with an effortlessly smooth procedure enhancing user experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Robert, LA. Competitive pricing and quick turnaround times offer outstanding value for businesses of all sizes, ensuring budget-friendly yet reliable testing solutions.

Our services are designed to deliver economical and expedient results that support organizational goals without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Robert, LA. Hair follicle drug testing offers a swift and precise solution, expertly detecting substance use. Its accuracy guarantees reliable results, providing peace of mind for both individuals and organizations. Efficiency and dependability in drug screening demonstrate the test's superiority.

Utilizing advanced technology, hair tests swiftly identify substances. Accurate results ensure informed decisions, benefiting workplace policies and ensuring safety.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Robert, LA. Hair follicle testing fosters adherence to drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks and promoting safer environments. It offers peace of mind, knowing practices align with compliance to maintain a productive workforce.

Employers gain reassurance from using hair tests as a means to reinforce workplace safety, ensuring policies reflect the organization's commitment to employee welfare.

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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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