Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Wheeling, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now viewed as an efficient means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a detailed historical record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the grow of its fibers. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer around a 3-month detection period for substances. It's easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising about 200 hairs (around the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, or tests beyond 10 panels, a specimen size of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. Note that head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core stages in processing a drug test outcome in a laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial phase of processing a specimen into a laboratory system. This stage ensures the sample was securely sealed and sent, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and fills in any extra data entries not recorded via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for drug use. Although Screening provides a cost-efficient way to eliminate drug use in most specimens, any positive result must be confirmed for legality. Specimens deemed presumptively positive during Screening require further confirmation.

In cases where a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted at a far lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing is complex.

Confirmation of positive Screening results employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Any samples that are deemed presumptively positive undergo washing prior to confirmation when necessary. The full laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug usage for up to 90 days, surpassing urine tests that offer a shorter window.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite arduous, thus enhancing accuracy.
• Historical insight: It charts a timeline of drug use over a duration, not merely immediate use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs are traceable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally incurs higher costs compared to alternative methods.
• Result variances: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strands rather than the follicles beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Wheeling, LA surpasses traditional urine tests through superior detection accuracy and dependability. Unlike urine tests that offer limited windows, hair tests track substance use over extended periods, uncovering patterns often missed otherwise. This ensures a better approach to maintaining a drug-free environment.

Moreover, the stability of hair samples minimizes sample degradation, providing consistent and reliable results irrespective of testing conditions. This contrasts sharply with urine testing, which can be affected by fluid intake and sample handling practices.

Extended Detection Window

Wheeling, LA benefits from hair follicle testing's extended detection window, reaching up to 90 days. This longer detection period offers employers a detailed understanding of an individual’s substance use history. By capturing a broader timeframe, employers can make more informed decisions regarding hiring and workforce management.

Hair testing not only tracks past behavior but also integrates seamlessly with regular testing routines. Its extended detection window provides an additional layer of insight, ensuring employers remain aware of potential risks within their teams.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Wheeling, LA, hair follicle tests are a tamper-resistant method, substantially reducing the risks of sample adulteration. The stringent collection process provides reliable results that withstand scrutiny, contributing to heightened trust in the testing procedure.

Hair samples cannot be easily substituted or diluted, unlike urine samples, making hair testing ideal for contexts where accuracy and integrity are paramount. This ensures that test results are valid and reflect genuine substance use, providing peace of mind to all stakeholders involved.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing locations, including in Wheeling, LA, Accredited Drug Testing provides easy access to quality drug testing services. By offering widespread access to professional testing centers, individuals and organizations alike benefit from swift, straightforward procedures.

The proximity of local testing centers simplifies logistics, enabling efficient drug testing without the hassle of extensive travel. This ensures that hair follicle testing is a practical solution for all residents and businesses in the area.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Wheeling, LA, Accredited Drug Testing promises a simple, confidential process for administering hair follicle tests. The method involves straightforward steps from ordering to receiving results, ensuring privacy is maintained throughout.

Clients appreciate the seamless procedure, as sensitive information is handled discreetly, eliminating concerns associated with privacy infringements. This respect for confidentiality reinforces trust and encourages more widespread adoption of hair testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing in Wheeling, LA delivers excellent value. Our affordable options allow businesses of all sizes to access reliable hair follicle testing without incurring high costs.

Quick processing times accompanying our cost-effective solutions ensure companies enjoy both monetary savings and the reassurance of fast, dependable results. This balance of affordability and efficiency supports businesses in sustaining drug-free workplaces effectively.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Wheeling, LA, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. Renowned for their high precision, these tests efficiently detect substance use, offering clear insights into an individual’s recent behaviors. Unlike other methods, hair testing swiftly processes results, enhancing both reliability and trust in outcomes.

The cutting-edge technology behind hair follicle testing ensures rapid turnaround times without sacrificing accuracy. This means individuals and organizations can rely on dependable results that reflect true substance use patterns, promoting informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Wheeling, LA, hair follicle testing offers compliance with drug-free workplace policies and peace of mind. By ensuring thorough and unbiased results, companies can minimize legal risks while promoting a safer work environment.

The use of hair testing reinforces zero-tolerance policies efficiently. This robust method of testing assures employers and employees alike of the firm commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace, fostering a culture of safety and responsibility.

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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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