Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Saint Bernard, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term overview of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the continuously growing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair offer a detection timeframe of roughly three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp generates 100mg of hair, an ideal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We endorse measuring the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. By head hair, we reference scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure of processing a drug test result encompasses these four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary processing of a specimen into the lab's system, which includes verifying proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an expedited preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Though Screening offers a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug usage in most samples, court-admissible results require confirmation after a positive screen. All presumptive positives from Screening demand additional confirmation.

If a sample indicates positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug screening constitutes the most challenging method to carry out.

The Confirmation of a positive screen involves GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory progression from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for as much as 90 days, unlike urine tests with briefer detection periods.
• Challenge in cheating: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, increasing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It delivers drug use patterns over a timeline, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect immediate use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically costlier than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis pertains to the hair strand, not to the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Saint Bernard, LA, hair follicle testing trumps urine testing by providing superior detection and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests can uncover drug use up to 90 days prior, making them essential for employers targeting comprehensive evaluations of substance use.

This testing method is designed to ensure a more robust and precise detection compared to urine tests, thereby allowing for a more reliable understanding of an individual's substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Saint Bernard, LA, uncovers drug use over lengthy periods, up to 90 days. This approach gives employers a far-reaching overview of an employee's substance history, crucial for informed decision-making.

Employers benefit from the extended detection window that hair follicle testing offers, allowing for insight into long-term drug use, thereby enhancing workplace safety and assurance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Saint Bernard, LA, minimizes the risk of sample tampering, ensuring unquestionable results. This reduces false outcomes, guaranteeing dependable and accurate drug screenings.

The design of hair follicle tests makes altering samples exceedingly difficult, thereby ensuring that the results employers receive are both genuine and reflective of the individual's true substance intake.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Saint Bernard, LA, is supported by our efficient nationwide testing centers, offering convenient and fast access. Utilizing these locations, you can rely on prompt and hassle-free testing operations.

Our network ensures services are delivered conveniently, making it easy for individuals and employers to access testing facilities without unnecessary delays or complications.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Saint Bernard, LA, is both simple and private, easing concerns around privacy. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is straightforward, ensuring a confidential experience.

With an emphasis on privacy, individuals are assured of confidentiality and ease from the beginning of the testing process to the delivery of results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Saint Bernard, LA, our competitive pricing and rapid response times offer exceptional value for businesses of all sizes. Cost-effective structures coupled with fast turnaround augment peace of mind for stakeholders.

Having affordable rates without sacrificing speed and quality of testing services ensures businesses receive optimal value, making us a preferred choice for reliable drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests stand out in Saint Bernard, LA. These tests offer high accuracy in detecting substance use, making them a leading choice for ensuring reliable results.

With hair follicle testing, results come not only fast but with high reliability. This method ensures substances are accurately identified, reflecting on one's substance use history with precision.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Saint Bernard, LA, implementing hair follicle testing promotes compliance with drug-free workplace policies, lowering legal risks and enhancing safety. This testing method ensures peace of mind by reliably verifying substance use adherence.

Thereby, employers not only secure compliance with workplace safety policies but also boost confidence in maintaining a drug-free environment.

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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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