Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Woodmere, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective method for identifying both drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug use by securing biomarkers within the hair as it grows. If collected near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month timeline of drug or alcohol use. The collection process is straightforward, and the samples are tough to tamper with and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 strands of hair (roughly equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil), taken from the scalp, yields 100mg of hair—ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, or beyond 10 panel tests, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing. In the absence of scalp hair, one can collect an equivalent amount of body hair. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties of hair, like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

There are four central stages in processing a drug test result in the laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning implies the primary processing of a sample into the lab’s framework. This encompasses ensuring that the sample was appropriately sealed and delivered, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening represents an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers an economical approach for most samples in eliminating potential drug use, the court only accepts results upon a positive screen’s confirmation. Hence, any sample presumed positive during Screening necessitates subsequent confirmation.

Whenever a sample registers as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. This stage involves isolating drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods such as urine or oral fluids, which renders hair drug screening a challenging process.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods are employed to confirm any positive screening outcomes. All samples that initially test positive are cleansed before confirmation, contingent upon requirement. Each element of the laboratory process from Accessioning through to Confirmation undergoes vetting per both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage spanning up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which provide a shorter detection period.
• Cheating prevention: Manipulating a hair drug test is exceptionally difficult, enhancing result credibility.
• Historical usage data: These tests offer insight into usage trends over time, rather than only recent activity.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days post-usage.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to alternative methods of drug testing.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair pigmentation and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While termed “hair follicle tests,” the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Woodmere, LA sees hair follicle testing as superior due to its unmatched detection accuracy over conventional urine tests. Hair testing allows for capturing drug use over a longer window, enhancing reliability. While urine tests focus on recent use, hair follicle tests provide a broader history, helping employers better gauge an individual's substance habits.

The accuracy and reliability of hair testing methods make it a top choice for organizations serious about maintaining drug-free environments without compromise.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Woodmere, LA benefit from hair follicle testing's extended window to detect drug use, stretching up to 90 days. This comprehensive coverage offers employers deeper insights into an applicant's or employee's past substance use, surpassing the limited timeframe urine tests offer.

With its extended detection period, hair testing is a preferred option for organizations aiming to ensure a holistic understanding of an individual's substance use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Woodmere, LA, hair follicle tests provide a tamper-resistant solution for drug screening, greatly minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. Unlike other methods, hair samples are difficult to manipulate, offering reliable and trustworthy results.

This robust testing method ensures confidence in the results, crucial for industries enforcing stringent drug-free policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing in Woodmere, LA simplifies access with conveniently located centers nationwide. For individuals seeking testing services, our locations assure a quick, easy, and hassle-free experience, ensuring prompt service across the board.

With centers nearby, residents and businesses in Woodmere, LA can conveniently utilize our services, underscoring our commitment to accessibility and customer satisfaction.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Woodmere, LA prioritizes simplicity and confidentiality, ensuring a seamless test experience. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed with user privacy and ease of use in mind, addressing any privacy concerns.

Clients can rest assured their information is protected, enjoying a transparent yet discreet testing service.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Woodmere, LA, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, ensuring top-notch value for companies of all sizes. Affordable yet reliable, our services provide peace of mind, supporting businesses in maintaining cost-effective drug-free workplaces.

By balancing cost with speed, our services cater to organizations seeking efficient and budget-friendly drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Woodmere, LA, hair follicle drug testing offers precision, delivering fast and reliable outcomes. By utilizing advanced technology, these tests have high accuracy rates in detecting substance use. Individuals and organizations can depend on these rapid results to make informed decisions regarding substance use within a timely manner.

Our centers prioritize both speed and accuracy, ensuring that from collection to results, the process is swift. This allows for quick intervention or action based on test outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Woodmere, LA gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies. By reducing legal risks, companies can enhance workplace safety, knowing they adhere to regulations with confidence.

Incorporating this testing method aligns with broader workplace safety goals, fostering a secure environment for all employees.

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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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