Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Buena Vista, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair assessment has been recognized as a potent mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol usage. By encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows, hair delivers an extended history of alcohol and drug exposure. When procured from near the scalp, hair can reveal a nearly three-month detection window for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

An approximately 1.5-inch sample comprising around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in thickness), taken closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for both initial screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, supplementary tests, or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to collect 150mg of the specimen. We suggest utilizing a jeweler’s scale for accuracy in weighing the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair applies to all other hair types, including facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The primary stages in laboratory processing of a drug test result consist of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

The Accessioning phase includes the initial entry of a sample into the lab's system, ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drug abuse substances. While it's an economical approach to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated for legal acceptability. Any samples with a presumptive positive result during Screening require an additional confirmation step.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction stage. During this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than alternative methodologies such as urine or oral fluid, making hair drug screening one of the most complex methods to execute.

Positive screening results are confirmed through techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptive positive undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a briefer detection period.
• High resistance to manipulation: It is exceptionally challenging to tamper with a hair drug test, thus ensuring accuracy in results.
• Historical use patterns: It can reveal consistent drug usage patterns over time, rather than merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Detection of drugs in hair typically takes about 5-7 days after use.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests are more costly compared to alternative drug testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", this assessment examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Buena Vista, GA
The superiority of hair testing lies in its enhanced accuracy and longer detection period, making it a preferred solution over the traditional urine test. Employers benefit from the hair test's extensive detection window and its ability to detect chronic substance use, offering a reliable assessment tool that far surpasses the limitations of urine testing.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Buena Vista, GA
Employers gain a broader perspective of an individual’s substance use through the extended detection window of hair follicle tests, which can trace drug use up to 90 days prior. This method provides a detailed insight into a potential employee's past drug involvement, going far beyond the capabilities of conventional testing techniques.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Buena Vista, GA
In contrast to other methods, hair follicle tests drastically lower the chances of tampering, offering trustworthy and incontestable outcomes. The difficulties of altering or adulterating hair samples ensure that results remain true to their findings, securing the integrity of the testing process and confirming its resistance to manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Buena Vista, GA
Our extensive network of testing centers across the nation ensures seamless access to drug testing services. With convenient locations, including those in Buena Vista, individuals and employers enjoy quick, straightforward access to our reliable testing procedures, making the process as hassle-free as possible.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Buena Vista, GA
Hair follicle testing is designed for simplicity and confidentiality, from order to results. The process respects privacy concerns, ensuring no personal information is leaked during testing. Clients are guided through a straightforward procedure, making their experience smooth and secure, thus safeguarding individuals’ confidentiality throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Buena Vista, GA
We pride ourselves on competitive pricing and quick delivery of results, offering excellent value that suits companies of all sizes. The fast turnaround times paired with our affordable rates ensure that organizations in Buena Vista receive their investment’s worth, promoting effective workplace screenings without straining budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Buena Vista, GA
Hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled accuracy and reliability in identifying drug use, ensuring quick and definitive results. Advanced labs and expert analysis guarantee precision, making hair testing a preferred choice for detecting even trace amounts of substances, while providing fast turnaround times ideal for urgent assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Buena Vista, GA
Adopting hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, lowering legal liabilities and boosting safety. Employers in Buena Vista find peace of mind in knowing their screening process aligns with regulatory standards, guarding against substance-related liabilities and enhancing organizational security.

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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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