Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Singer, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. Collecting hair near the scalp can result in up to roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section from approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for both screening and confirmation tests. When conducting EtG, supplementary tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. It's suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't obtainable, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other hair categories (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedures for processing a drug test outcome consist of four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s system, which involves verifying that the sample was sealed and dispatched appropriately, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering any additional data not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary quick assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening is a cost-efficient means of discounting drug use in the bulk of samples; however, a positive screen must be validated to be permissible in court. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require secondary confirmation.

When a sample returns presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of all positive screening outcomes is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that are deemed presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is regulated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation standards of ISO / IEC 17025.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests feature a shorter detection timeframe.
• Challenging to manipulate: Hair drug tests are very difficult to cheat, thus rendering the results more reliable.
• Offers historical insight: They can illustrate a drug use pattern over time, beyond merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variance: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth may impact the drug metabolite concentration found in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests," the procedure itself analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing prevails over traditional urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy. In Singer, LA, this method offers a clear advantage, identifying substance use more reliably over time. While urine tests capture recent usage, hair analysis provides a comprehensive insight, reducing false negatives and providing dependable results.

Extended Detection Window

In Singer, LA, hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage with its extended detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This enhanced timeframe allows employers to thoroughly evaluate an individual's substance history, offering a comprehensive overview of one’s drug use beyond the limits of conventional tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Singer, LA is a tamper-resistant method that greatly minimizes the chances of sample adulteration. The structure and growth of hair make it difficult to alter, ensuring the reliability and integrity of the results, providing unquestionable evidence of substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing centers, including local ones in Singer, LA, offer convenience and accessibility. These facilities ensure a quick and hassle-free testing experience, granting individuals and companies the ease of access and efficiency needed for stress-free drug testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Singer, LA, our hair follicle testing procedure is straightforward and confidential. The process encompasses simple steps from ordering to receiving results, assuring privacy and ease of use—addressing and alleviating any concerns regarding the confidentiality and simplicity of the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Singer, LA, our services boast affordable pricing coupled with fast turnaround times. Clients benefit from competitive rates without compromising on quality, offering exceptional value and peace of mind, perfectly suited for companies irrespective of their size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Singer, LA, hair follicle drug tests stand out with their precision and rapidity. These tests are renowned for their high accuracy in identifying substance use, consistently providing reliable and swift results. Clients can depend on the fast turnaround while maintaining rigorous standards in accuracy and consistency for detecting drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Singer, LA can enhance compliance and workplace safety with hair follicle testing. This method ensures adherence to drug-free policies, lowering legal liabilities and fostering a secure work environment, ultimately delivering peace of mind to organizations.

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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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