Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Woodside, LA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has increasingly been recognized as an effective approach for detecting substance use, including alcohol. Hair strands preserve evidence of alcohol and drug usage through embedded biomarkers. When hair near the scalp is collected, it can reveal consumption habits over roughly a 3-month period. Collecting hair is straightforward, tough to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample consisting of 1.5 inches of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields approximately 100mg of material, which is ideal for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or for panels exceeding 10, a sample of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent mass of body hair can be used. By head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing laboratory procedure comprises four central stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory's records. This step ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and sent, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) randomly, and finalizes any additional data entry missing in an electronic custody chain system.

Screening offers a preliminary basic evaluation for substance abuse. Although Screening efficiently eliminates drug use for most samples, a court-viable positive screen requires confirmation. Any samples indicating a positive result in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower densities in contrast to other methods (such as urine or saliva), making hair drug testing especially challenging.

Confirmation of any initially positive results is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if required. The complete laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined according to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests identify drug use over about 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection period.
• Challenging to deceive: Hair drug testing resists tampering, ensuring more precise results.
• Chronological usage data: This method reflects a pattern of substance use over time, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to indicate recent usage: Drugs become noticeable in hair only after around 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair testing tends to incur higher costs compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result discrepancies: Variables like hair color and individual growth rates can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: This test is frequently termed a "hair follicle test", nonetheless, its examination focuses on the hair itself rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing
In Woodside, LA, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests with its superior detection capabilities and accuracy. This method provides a more reliable view of an individual’s substance use history, making it an ideal choice for many professionals.

• Extended Detection Period
• More Difficult to Manipulate
• Observational Sample Collection

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Woodside, LA
Hair follicle tests offer an impressive detection window of up to 90 days, providing employers with a detailed overview of an employee's or candidate's drug use history in Woodside, LA.

• 90-Day Detection Period
• Comprehensive Drug Use History
• Ideal for Long-Term Analysis

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method
In Woodside, LA, hair follicle testing significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration. This method ensures reliable results that are difficult to dispute, offering peace of mind for all parties involved.

• Reduces Sample Tampering
• Reliable Test Integrity
• Unquestionable Results

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations
With locations all over Woodside, LA, and nationwide, our testing centers provide quick and hassle-free access to drug testing services.

• Nationwide Availability
• Hassle-Free Access
• Convenient Local Sites

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process
Our process in Woodside, LA, ensures simplicity and confidentiality from ordering to receiving results, addressing any privacy concerns you might have.

• Easy Ordering Process
• Confidential Handling
• Privacy Assurance

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround
In Woodside, LA, we provide competitive pricing models and swift turnaround times, delivering excellent value for organizations of all sizes.

• Competitive Pricing
• Fast Turnaround
• Excellent Value

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, Reliable Testing in Woodside, LA
Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and speed in Woodside, LA. Compared to other methods, they offer highly accurate detection of substance use, ensuring dependable results in a timely manner.

• Expeditious Process
• High-Level Precision
• Superior Detection Accuracy

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Woodside, LA, helps employers maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks and improving overall workplace safety.

• Ensures Policy Compliance
• Reduces Legal Risks
• Enhances Workplace Safety

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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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