Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Serena, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become recognized as a potent method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair captures a lasting record of substance use by incorporating biomarkers into the structure of the hair as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer a detection range of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, moderately challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample size of 1.5 inches, composed of about 200 hair strands (approximately the circumference of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, the ideal amount for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to use 150mg of the specimen. We suggest weighing the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair can't be collected, an equivalent amount of body hair might be used. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

Laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step where a sample is integrated into a laboratory’s system. This phase ensures the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigns a random laboratoire accessioning number (LAN), and fills any extra data entry not offered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in the majority of cases, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in legal settings. Samples indicating presumptive positives in Screening require further confirmation.

When a sample suggests a positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, compounds are isolated from the hair at considerably lower levels than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair testing the most complex methodology to conduct.

Any positive result from Screening is verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with presumptive positives are cleansed prior to confirmation if required. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair tests can indicate drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a briefer detection period.
• Challenge to deceive: It is notably difficult to falsify a hair drug test, thereby ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical insight: It delineates a trend of drug use over time rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs require around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically more costly compared to other testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination itself is on the hair shaft, rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When weighing hair follicle testing against traditional urine methods in Serena, LA, hair tests offer notable benefits. Superior accuracy and longer detection periods make them the preferred choice. Hair tests are less likely to be manipulated and provide a clearer picture of long-term drug use. Compared to urine tests, hair testing offers more reliable results, making it ideal for ensuring a drug-free environment.

Extended Detection Window

The Extended Detection Window of hair follicle testing in Serena, LA, stretches up to an impressive 90 days. This protracted timeframe offers employers a comprehensive overview of an individual's historical drug use. It not only reveals recent habits but also provides insights into an extended substance history, crucial for making thorough and dependable employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Serena, LA, the advantages of using hair follicle tests lie in its Tamper-Resistant Testing Method. By considerably lowering the risk of sample adulteration, these tests produce results that are both reliable and unquestionable. The design inherently protects the integrity of each sample, preserving the authenticity and dependability of the outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and local sites in Serena, LA, accessing testing services is straightforward. The national presence means that tests can be conducted quickly and easily, ensuring a hassle-free experience for clients anywhere, thereby facilitating efficient and seamless drug testing processes across various regions.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Serena, LA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Clients will find ease in ordering, undertaking, and receiving test results. The streamlined process respects privacy at each step, addressing potential concerns related to confidentiality and ensuring a user-friendly experience for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Serena, LA, we offer Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround on hair follicle tests. Our competitive pricing structure is designed to suit all company sizes, ensuring high value. The expedited delivery of results provides peace of mind for employers, ensuring timely and effective decision-making processes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Serena, LA are what hair follicle tests stand for. They deliver unmatched precision in detecting substance use. The method's high accuracy ensures that substances are effectively identified, providing stakeholders with the confidence required to make informed decisions rapidly, enhancing workplace and community safety.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Relying on hair follicle testing in Serena, LA, assures Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers.

• Adhering to drug-free workplace policies becomes streamlined.
• Employers are safeguarded against legal ramifications.
• It fosters enhanced workplace safety, reducing the risk of accidents or impairment at work.

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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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