Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Romeville, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has been regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of alcohol and other substances by encasing biomarkers within its growing strands. When hair is cut near the scalp, it can offer a detection period of up to about 3 months for these substances. Hair is easy to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of nearly 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair may be gathered. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the laboratory analysis of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial handling of a sample through a laboratory’s system. This involves confirming that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary quick assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a confirmed positive screen is needed for it to be legally valid. Any samples that test presumptively positive during Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a much lower concentration than in other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most complex procedure to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing presumptive positive are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to deceive: It's quite hard to outwit a hair drug test, ensuring more precise results.
• Provides historical insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug usage over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Unable to identify recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result fluctuations: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can affect the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Romeville, LA, hair follicle testing provides distinct advantages over traditional urine analysis. Unlike urine tests, hair testing detects substance use over a longer period, offering more reliable data on an individual's history of abuse. Employers rely on hair tests for their superior detection and accuracy, ensuring more informed decision-making when it comes to hiring and maintaining a safe workplace.

Extended Detection Window

With the extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Romeville, LA, drug use is detectable for up to 90 days. Unlike other methods, this prolonged period allows employers a comprehensive view into an individual’s substance use history. Hair testing offers a thorough approach to understanding long-term patterns, which is invaluable in sensitive work environments where safety is paramount.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Romeville, LA are recognized for their tamper-resistant attributes. Compared to other testing methods, hair samples are far more secure against adulteration, ensuring results are reliable and trustworthy. This robust method of drug testing stands as a deterrent against attempted deception, making it a preferred choice for many organizations concerned with accuracy and integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key at Accredited Drug Testing with nationwide and local centers in Romeville, LA. Our extensive location network ensures quick and straightforward access to hair follicle testing services. With ease of access, individuals and organizations can carry out testing promptly, minimizing disruptions and maintaining the flow of everyday operations.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Romeville, LA, undergoing a hair follicle test is straightforward and confidential. Our process ensures ease from ordering to obtaining results, breaking down apprehensions over privacy. Maintaining confidentiality throughout, we offer a seamless experience, assuring individuals that their information is handled with the utmost care and discretion from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and rapid result turnaround in Romeville, LA make our hair follicle testing services accessible to companies of any size. Offering excellent value without compromising on quality, our services are tailored to meet budgetary constraints while delivering timely, accurate drug testing results, assuring employers of a sound investment in safety and compliance.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

For fast, accurate, and reliable drug testing results in Romeville, LA, hair follicle tests stand out. The precision in identifying substance use is unmatched, facilitating prompt, trustworthy results. Employers and individuals benefit from efficient testing, ensuring peace of mind with accurate reflections of one's drug use history. These tests provide clarity and expedience without compromising on accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Romeville, LA find peace of mind through hair follicle testing, strengthening compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method diminishes legal risks associated with drug use, fostering a safe and productive work environment. By choosing hair testing, businesses commit to greater safety standards and risk management, safeguarding both employees and organizational integrity.

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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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