Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Southdown, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments have emerged as an effective method for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. They track a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drugs by securing biomarkers within the fibers of the elongating hair. When taken near the scalp, the hair can offer an approximately 3-month window for detecting alcohol and other drugs. The collection process is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to send.

Obtaining a 1.5-inch portion consisting of around 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to measure the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four fundamental phases in the laboratory handling of drug test outcomes: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory's framework. This step involves ensuring the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening constitutes an initial, rapid evaluation for drug misuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening need secondary confirmation.

When a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drug extraction from hair occurs at a considerably lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Positive results from screening undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Each presumptive positive sample is washed before confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair distinction and is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter timeframe.
• Challenge to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, rendering the results more precise.
• Delivers historical data: It can show a pattern of drug use over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Detection in hair requires about 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than alternate drug test methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the actual test examines the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing can be attributed to several factors in Southdown, LA.

• Long detection window outperforms typical urine tests.
• Less prone to tampering and provides accurate results.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window is a core advantage of hair follicle testing in Southdown, LA.

• Monitors drug use over a longer 90-day period.
• Offers a thorough overview of substance history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method is a standout feature of hair follicle drug tests in Southdown, LA.

• Minimizes sample adulteration risks.
• Secures reliable, undeniable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations offer access across regions including Southdown, LA.

• Easy availability at local facilities.
• Streamlined, hassle-free testing experiences.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process defines the testing procedure in Southdown, LA.

• Straightforward ordering method.
• Privacy-focused results handling.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround play a crucial part in the appeal of our services in Southdown, LA.

• Competitive pricing across various needs.
• Quick delivery of results enhances appeal.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results are the pillars of hair follicle drug testing in Southdown, LA.

• High accuracy ensures precise detection of substances.
• Rapid processing delivers quick results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers are critical when using hair follicle testing in Southdown, LA.

• Ensures alignment with drug-free workplace policies.
• Enhances legal safety by minimizing risks.

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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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