Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Woodlawn, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands encapsulate a protracted record of alcohol and drug use by retaining biomarkers within their fibers as they grow. When clipped near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate 3-month detection period for both alcohol and illicit substances. Hair's collection is straightforward, moderately tamper-resistant, and convenient for transport.

An ideal screening and confirmation sample consists of a 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearest to the scalp, totaling 100mg. For EtG tests and/or panels exceeding ten, 150mg of hair is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the hair on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a comparable amount of body hair may be utilized. References to head hair pertain exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair types like facial or axillary.

Process Overview

The drug test result processing in a laboratory involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the lab's system, ensuring proper sealing and shipping, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and carrying out any additional data entry that's not addressed by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid check for substances of abuse. Although Screening is economically efficient for eliminating drug use in most samples, a court-admissible positive screen requires confirmation. Any samples with presumptive positives in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If the Screening stage indicates a presumptive positive, an additional segment of hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at a considerably lower concentration than in alternate methods (such as urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as required. The full lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and is validated under ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug consumption for a duration of up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter timeframe.
• Resistance to tampering: Manipulating a hair drug test is quite challenging, thereby enhancing the precision of results.
• Chronological usage pattern: It allows for the assessment of drug use tendencies over time, not merely recent activity.

Drawbacks:

• Lacks recent use detection capability: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to other drug test methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair can be influenced by factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences.

Clarification: Despite being frequently termed as "hair follicle tests," these tests examine the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Woodlawn, LA, stands out for its superior detection accuracy and reliability over urine tests. It captures a longer drug-use history, aiding employers in making informed decisions based on comprehensive substance use data.

Unlike urine tests, hair analysis is often harder to manipulate and offers a breadth of information, ensuring employers and authorities can rely on it for critical evaluations.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Woodlawn, LA, appreciate hair follicle testing for providing a 90-day detection window. This extensive period offers insights into an individual’s substance use history, beyond what urine tests can cover.

With such a wide detection timeframe, hair tests help employers ensure a drug-free workplace by understanding not only recent but also past substance behaviors.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Woodlawn, LA, effectively reduces tampering risks, offering reliable results. The nature of hair testing makes it resilient against sample adulteration, assuring legitimate outcomes.

This method thereby provides employers with peace of mind, knowing they have an authentic depiction of individuals' drug history without tampered samples.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations nationwide, including Woodlawn, LA. This extensive network guarantees swift and uncomplicated access to hair follicle testing services.

With such ease of access, individuals and companies can effortlessly meet their testing needs without significant travel or delay, enhancing the overall experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Woodlawn, LA, is simple and confidential. From ordering to obtaining results, privacy and ease are prioritized, ensuring stress-free testing experiences for individuals.

Clients appreciate the straightforward procedures, which address privacy concerns, making it easier to incorporate regular testing without disruptions.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround, hair follicle drug tests in Woodlawn, LA, ensure excellent value for businesses. Quick result delivery helps organizations of all sizes maintain their pace without compromise.

Competitive rates combined with efficient services provide companies with the confidence to implement regular testing as part of their workplace policies.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Woodlawn, LA, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. They boast high precision in identifying drug use compared to traditional methods, providing trustworthy insights into an individual's substance history.

The speed and accuracy of hair tests ensure prompt results, reflecting recent and long-term drug use with remarkable reliability. This makes them indispensable in contexts where timely decisions are critical.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle tests ensures compliance with drug-free policies in Woodlawn, LA, boosting workplace safety. Employers benefit from this reliable testing method by reducing legal risks and fostering a safer work environment.

Peace of mind for employers stems from understanding that their teams adhere to required standards, thus solidifying trust and security at work.

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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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