Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brewton, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of substance intake by embedding biomarkers within its expanding fibers. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a roughly 3-month detection frame for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is easy, somewhat resistant to tampering, and straightforward to ship.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands (approximately the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or over 10-panel evaluations, 150mg of the specimen is advised. Using a jeweler's scale for specimen weighing is suggested. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. Reference to head hair signifies scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test result processing at a laboratory is comprised of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning denotes the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This process includes confirming the appropriate sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any missing data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary evaluation for substance abuse. While it is cost-effective, a positive screen must be confirmed to qualify as admissible in court. Any samples that yield a preliminary positive in Screening must undergo further confirmation.

In instances of a presumptive positive sample during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the initial specimen in preparation for Extraction. This phase involves retrieving drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation of any positive screening results is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review both under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and in accordance with accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Unlike urine tests, hair drug tests can identify substance use for up to 90 days.
• Difficult to falsify: Hair drug tests present challenges to cheating, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical usage pattern: Provides insight into drug use over an extended timeline rather than recent usage alone.

Limitations:

• Lacks detection of immediate use: A period of roughly 5-7 days is required before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug testing typically incurs greater expense than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentration in hair may be influenced by variables like hair color and personal hair growth nuances.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test actually analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Brewton, GA, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing in several important ways. The ability of hair testing to detect substances with a higher degree of accuracy and reliability makes it indispensable in workplace and legal contexts.

The extended detection period of hair tests, compared to urine tests, provides employers with a more thorough overview of an individual's substance use, offering clarity that's often essential when policies demand thoroughness.

Extended Detection Window

Brewton, GA, businesses favor hair follicle testing for its extensive detection window. Compared to traditional urine tests, hair analysis can reveal substance use going back as far as 90 days, providing a detailed account of an individual's history.

This extended window is crucial for employers needing a comprehensive picture of potential hires or current employees, ensuring that a longer pattern of behavior is assessed, not just recent activity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug tests in Brewton, GA, offer a tamper-resistant approach to substance testing, effectively minimizing the risk of sample alteration. This reliability ensures employers receive trustworthy outcomes free from external manipulation.

The stringent nature of hair testing means it's incredibly challenging to alter results, providing businesses and legal entities with peace of mind that test findings are genuine and untouched.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our extensive network of testing locations, including those in Brewton, GA, offers unmatched convenience. Accredited Drug Testing ensures clients have easy access to testing services, whether locally or nationwide.

With numerous centers, arranging a test is straightforward and efficient, minimizing disruptions to your schedule and guaranteeing timely service at locations that suit you best.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ordering and undergoing hair drug testing in Brewton, GA, is a straightforward and discreet process. Our methods ensure privacy and ease of use, addressing any concerns about confidentiality.

From initial test scheduling to receiving results, we streamline every step, making it an effortless experience for all clients while respecting their privacy throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Brewton, GA, prides itself on offering competitive pricing alongside fast turnaround times. We provide exceptional value for companies of various sizes, ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising on speed and quality.

Our services are designed to meet the budgetary and timing needs of businesses, delivering reliable results promptly to support informed decisions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests in Brewton, GA, make them an exceptional choice for detecting substance use quickly and reliably. The precision of these tests ensures that results accurately reflect an individual's substance history without delay.

Employers benefit from the prompt reports provided by hair testing, allowing for timely decision-making. The method's high level of accuracy makes it a trusted tool in maintaining workplace integrity and safety.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Brewton, GA, employers, using hair follicle tests ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This compliance not only reduces legal exposure but also elevates safety in the work environment.

Employers gain reassurance knowing that their testing method aligns with industry standards and protects both the workforce and the organization’s integrity, fostering overall workplace well-being.

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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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