Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sunset, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now considered a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. The fibers of a growing hair strand capture biomarkers, offering a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs. When garnered near the scalp, hair can reveal usage of substances over a span close to 3 months. It is straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and convenient to mail.

Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, it's advisable to have 150mg of the sample. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent mass of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary phases in the lab processing of drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the preliminary processing of a specimen within a laboratory's system. This step involves verifying that the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry not accounted for by an electronic chain of custody mechanism.

Screening is an initial and swift appraisal for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to discount drug use in the bulk of samples, a positive result must be verified for legal proceedings. Any samples supposedly positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at far lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate methodology to execute.

Confirmation of a positive Screening outcome is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Cheating is very difficult: It is extremely challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, ensuring more reliable results.
• Provides historical insight: It can reveal a drug use pattern over a duration, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments are typically costlier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Sunset, LA

In contrast to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing boasts superior detection accuracy. It not only identifies drug use with greater precision but also offers reliability that employers and courts depend on. Hair tests provide a more exhaustive substance history, majorly enhancing trustworthiness and decision-making capabilities.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Sunset, LA

Hair follicle testing provides an unparalleled detection window of up to 90 days, granting employers a comprehensive overview of one's substance use history. This extended timeframe ensures that repeated or prolonged drug or alcohol consumption does not go unnoticed, offering vital insights beyond what shorter detection methods can supply.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Sunset, LA

The integrity of hair follicle tests is unparalleled, significantly reducing any chances for sample adulteration. This tamper-resistant approach ensures that the results are not only reliable but also trustworthy, offering peace of mind that the findings genuinely reflect the individual's substance use patterns.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Sunset, LA

Our expansive network of testing locations offers unparalleled convenience. Whether in Sunset, LA, or across the nation, our centers are easily accessible, ensuring a quick, simple, and hassle-free testing experience for all involved, bridging the gap between need and solution seamlessly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Sunset, LA

We pride ourselves on a process that's both straightforward and discreet. From ordering to testing and receiving results, each step is designed to safeguard privacy while ensuring ease. Concerns over confidentiality and complexity evaporate, making the experience smooth and stress-free.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Sunset, LA

Our competitive pricing structures coupled with rapid turnaround times provide exceptional value. Employers of various scales can enjoy both cost savings and efficient processes, reinforcing our commitment to affordability and effectiveness in drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Sunset, LA

Hair follicle drug tests stand at the forefront of speed and precision within the drug-testing arena. Their unparalleled accuracy ensures that substance use is detected with exactness, securing the trust of employers and individuals alike. When the need for quick yet reliable results arises, hair testing offers an unmatched solution.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Sunset, LA

Adopting hair follicle testing ensures that businesses meet their drug-free workplace mandates effectively. By enhancing compliance, legal risks are minimized, and workplace safety is significantly bolstered, allowing employers to maintain a productive and secure work 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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