Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Westdale, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations are now viewed as an effective mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair fibers encapsulate biomarkers, showcasing a prolonged timeline of substance use through ongoing hair growth. When extracted near the scalp, hair analysis can reveal a detection window stretching up to roughly three months for substances like alcohol. Not only is hair collecting straightforward, but it is also relatively hard to tamper with and straightforward to transport.

A segment measuring 1.5 inches of nearly 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, the perfect quantity for screening and verification. For tests like EtG, addons, or those surpassing 10 panels, it's advised to gather a 150mg sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. In scenarios where scalp hair is not available, equivalent body hair may be used. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other categories (like facial or axillary hair).

Process Synopsis

The primary phases in the lab processing of drug test results include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the first stage of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s database. This process ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody setup.

Screening constitutes an initial swift evaluation for drug misuse. Even though it’s a cost-effective method to dismiss drug presence in the majority of samples, any positive screening requires affirmation for judicial acceptability. Samples that show a presumptive positive at Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

In cases where a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. This phase sees drugs extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technology are utilized for the Confirmation of any positive screening outcome. Prior to Confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed if needed. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire lab process is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation conforming to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Hair drug testing benefits:

• Prolonged detection duration: Hair drug tests can spot drug consumption for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter span of urine tests.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug testing is tough to deceive, enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals past usage: It unveils a history of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to spot recent use: It usually takes 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other test types.
• Result fluctuations: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth differences could affect the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although these are labeled "hair follicle tests", the evaluation is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the skin

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Westdale, LA offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. Thanks to its superior detection accuracy and reliability, it is favored by employers, courts, and substance abuse professionals alike. Unlike urine tests, which provide a limited detection window, hair testing can identify drug use over an extended period, ensuring a more comprehensive assessment.

Extended Detection Window

The hallmark of hair follicle testing in Westdale, LA, is its extended detection window. Unlike other methods, hair tests provide a longer history, up to 90 days, of an individual’s substance use. This capability equips employers with essential information for better decision-making, offering a thorough examination of a candidate's or employee's substance history to ensure workplace safety and compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Westdale, LA, hair follicle tests present a tamper-resistant method, greatly curbing risks of sample adulteration. This steadfast testing strategy delivers unquestionable results, as the consequences of environmental contamination or sample substitution are negligible. Employers and legal entities can trust the authenticity of these tests, securing dependable evaluations of substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy access in Westdale, LA through its extensive network of nationwide testing centers. With convenient local and national locations, scheduling a hair follicle test is quick and hassle-free. This accessibility guarantees minimal disruption to your schedule, making the process of drug testing straightforward and efficient for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Westdale, LA, the process of hair follicle testing is designed to be simple and confidential. From the ease of placing an order to the efficiency of receiving results, every step is streamlined for privacy and user comfort. This transparency and concern for confidentiality make it an ideal choice for those seeking reliable drug testing options.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing in Westdale, LA provides excellent value with its hair follicle testing services. Even for companies of varying sizes, the affordability combined with the reliability of quick results makes it a practical choice, adding peace of mind through cost-effective substance testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Westdale, LA, hair follicle drug tests are known for their accuracy and speed in delivering results.Fast and reliable, these tests ensure precise detection of substance use, making them a superior choice for employers and individuals. The process is executed with meticulous care, guaranteeing that the results are a true reflection of an individual's history, thus enabling informed decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Westdale, LA employers, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This method not only upholds legal standards, but also proactively reduces potential legal risks. By choosing hair follicle tests, companies can enhance workplace safety and efficiency while attaining peace of mind. Such protocols safeguard against potential liabilities and maintain a professional 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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