Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sterlington, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly viewed as an effective method for identifying substance use. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within its growing strands. When taken near the scalp, hair can provide an approximate 3-month window for detecting substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.

Collecting a 1.5-inch sample, consisting of about 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the preferred sample amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equal amount of body hair can be utilized. In discussions about head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing process in laboratories comprises four essential steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to first introducing a sample into the laboratory's system. This step includes checks to confirm the sample's seal and proper shipping, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any additional data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as a preliminary fast inspection for substance abuse. Although Screening is an economical means to dismiss drug use for most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples with presumptive positives in Screening must undergo additional confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptive positive during Screening, extra hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, substances are retrieved from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing challenging.

Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as needed. The chain from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests enable detection for up to 90 days, while urine tests detect over shorter periods.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insights: It offers a timeline of substance use, covering more than just immediate usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot spot recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentration in hair can be influenced by hair color and personal growth differences.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", these tests evaluate the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Sterlington, LA, hair follicle testing is superior to traditional urine tests due to its higher detection accuracy and reliability. The hair test allows for an extensive view of an individual's substance history, revealing drug use patterns that urine tests may overlook.

Employers favor hair tests for their comprehensive detection ability. Unlike urine tests, which only detect recent drug use, hair follicle tests provide a detailed overview, showcasing superior long-term detection capabilities.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Sterlington, LA extends the detection window of substance use up to a remarkable 90 days. By analyzing hair samples, employers gain a broader understanding of an individual's substance history, essential for comprehensive workplace assessments.

This prolonged detection period is advantageous for employers aiming to maintain a drug-free environment. The ability to identify substance use over months rather than days offers a substantial benefit over other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Sterlington, LA provide a tamper-resistant solution to drug testing. These tests are significantly more challenging to adulterate compared to urine tests, offering an additional level of security and reliability.

Employers benefit from the unquestionable results yielded by hair tests. The robustness of this method makes it a trustworthy option, drastically minimizing the chance of sample manipulation and ensuring test credibility.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Sterlington, LA residents benefit greatly from our convenient testing locations across the nation. These centers are easily accessible, ensuring a quick and hassle-free testing experience for all participants.

The extensive network of testing sites allows for swift access to services, accommodating both local and national needs, making it simpler than ever to undergo essential testing without added stress or effort.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Sterlington, LA, the process for conducting hair follicle tests is simple and confidential. From ordering the test to delivering results, every step is designed to ensure user privacy and ease of use.

Participants can experience a streamlined testing journey, comforted by the assurance that their information remains confidential throughout the entire process, facilitating a worry-free testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing in Sterlington, LA offers affordable pricing structures coupled with fast turnaround times. This combination provides substantial value, making it accessible and efficient for businesses of various sizes.

The competitive pricing ensures that companies can manage employee drug testing without financial strain, while the quick return on results aids in timely decision-making, offering excellent peace of mind and service value.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug tests in Sterlington, LA are celebrated for their speed and precision. The method offers highly accurate results that swiftly detect substance use, carving out a niche in the drug testing sphere. Clients seeking fast and reliable drug test results benefit immensely from this testing method.

The unparalleled accuracy ensures that substance detection is both comprehensive and reliable. With these precision levels, employers can trust the outcomes, leading to better informed employment decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance with workplace drug policies is crucial, and hair follicle tests in Sterlington, LA help employers ensure adherence. These tests support companies in upholding their drug-free policies, thus reducing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety.

By choosing hair follicle testing, employers gain peace of mind, knowing that they have mitigated illegal substance use and upheld compliance, contributing to a more secure and efficient workplace 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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