Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Tullos, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption, utilizing the hair’s ability to preserve a prolonged record of substances by embedding markers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken from near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window extending up to around 90 days for alcohol and drugs. It’s straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to send.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) from the scalp equates to 100mg, considered optimal for both preliminary screening and verification. For EtG, extra panels, or assessments beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. Should scalp hair be absent, a comparable volume of body hair may be an alternative. When mentioning head hair, it exclusively means scalp hair. Body hair denotes any other hair category (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four main phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the phase where a sample is initially processed within a lab’s system. This step involves affirming the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and accomplishing any supplementary data input missing from an electronic chain of custody arrangement.

Screening acts as an initial rapid assessment aimed at identifying abuse drugs. Although Screening is economical for ruling out drug usage in most samples, a positive outcome requires verification for legality in court. Any specimens with presumptive positive results from the Screening phase necessitate further confirmation.

If a sample yields a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly reduced concentrations than other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing among the most challenging methods to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is performed using methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive specimens undergo washing as needed. The entire process, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and in line with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection duration: Hair drug testing can reveal drug usage for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to bypass: Cheating on a hair drug test is notably challenging, thereby ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Displays historical data: Offers a timeline of drug usage patterns over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become noticeable in hair around 5-7 days after use.
• Cost factor: Generally, hair drug tests are costlier than other testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual growth variations may influence drug metabolite percentages in hair.

Note: Though frequently labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the hair follicle residing under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Stands Out Over Urine Tests: In Tullos, LA, hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests in multiple facets. The extended detection period of hair tests offers a more comprehensive history.
Unlike urine tests, which are limited to recent drug use, hair analysis reveals substance usage patterns over an extended timeframe.
Employers favor hair tests for their reliability and difficult-to-tamper nature.

• Greater accuracy over a longer detection period, covering up to 90 days.
• Observed collection processes reduce tampering risks compared to urine tests.
• Preferred by organizations with zero-tolerance policies due to superior detection ability.

Extended Detection Window

Increased Detection Window in Hair Testing: In Tullos, LA, hair follicle testing offers an extended evaluation period, detecting drug use up to 90 days. This comprehensive timeframe aids employers wanting a fuller understanding of substance history for applicants.
Unlike other testing methods, hair follicles retain drugs longer, enabling extensive detection periods and insights into behavioral patterns.

• Employers gain a thorough perspective on an individual's drug habits.
• The extended analysis period assists in capturing periodic and habitual consumption.
• Ideal for longitudinal evaluations in sensitive roles requiring utmost sobriety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Ensuring Credibility Through Tamper-Resistant Testing: Hair follicle tests implemented in Tullos, LA, minimize adulteration risks, delivering dependable results. By collecting samples in a controlled setting, manipulation opportunities decrease significantly.
This reliability makes hair tests a favored option for companies enforcing strict drug policies, securing assurance against potential deceit.

• Hard to dodge, unlike urine tests prone to adulteration.
• Observed collection procedures ensure specimen purity.
• Steadfast results aid employers in upholding workplace integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Locations Nation and Local in Tullos, LA: Our widespread centers facilitate swift and straightforward access to drug testing services. Accredited Drug Testing's locations ensure convenience and reliability in evaluations, indispensable to both employers and individuals.

• Quick and hassle-free access to our testing services nationwide.
• Local availability in Tullos, LA, provides flexibility and immediate support.
• Well-situated facilities alleviate inconvenience and provide timely results.

Simple, Confidential Process

Streamlined and Confidential Testing Experience: The hair follicle testing process in Tullos, LA, is user-friendly and private. It's designed for ease in ordering and receiving evaluations.
Our commitment to confidentiality addresses privacy concerns and makes the process inviting for all involved parties.

• Simplified ordering and processing eliminate hassle.
• Confidentiality safeguards client integrity and information.
• Well-organized process from test to results ensures client satisfaction.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective Solutions with Quick Turnaround: Accredited Drug Testing provides competitive prices and rapid results for hair follicle testing in Tullos, LA.
These affordable options offer excellent value alongside high-quality service, ensuring companies of all sizes receive prompt and insightful evaluations.

• Competitive pricing structures suit diverse organizational budgets.
• Speedy processing ensures timely outcomes to meet urgent needs.
• Cost-efficient for sustained compliance with industry standards.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Speed and Precision in Hair Testing: Hair follicle testing offers fast and accurate results. In Tullos, LA, this method's precision ensures that employers receive reliable data.
Delivering both speed and accuracy, it swiftly detects drug use amongst applicants and employees, streamlining hiring processes and enhancing trust.
Unlike other methods, hair tests maintain high accuracy and minimal error.

• High precision as it analyzes up to 3 months of drug use.
• Results are processed swiftly, often within a few days, expediting decision-making processes.
• Clinically reliable with low chances of false results due to contaminations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Assurance with Hair Testing: Tullos, LA employers utilize hair follicle tests to align with drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks and fostering a secure work environment.
This method ensures adherence, delivering peace of mind knowing the workplace maintains safety standards.

• Enables organizations to comply effortlessly with safety regulations.
• Mitigates possible risks from substance use in critical operations.
• Reduces liability regarding claims of inadequate substance oversight.

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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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