Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cisco, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. It offers an extended timeline by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands. Collected near the scalp, hair samples can cover up to a 3-month period for alcohol and drug detection. Hair is easy to gather, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

Using a 1.5-inch hair strand sample (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) of 200 hairs closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both initial screening and confirmation stages. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is preferred. We advise utilizing a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent volume of body hair may be used. References to head hair mean scalp hair exclusively, while body hair includes other types such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the first step where a sample is entered into the lab's system, ensuring it's properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary, swift check for drugs. While cost-efficient for ruling out drugs in most samples, a positive result in Screening must be confirmed for court admissibility, requiring secondary confirmation for any presumptive positives.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, more hair from the initial sample is prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are separated at a much lower concentration than other methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug screening the hardest methodology.

Any positive results from the screening require Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests cover drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests detect drug use within a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating hair drug tests is notably challenging, enhancing result reliability.
• Historical insight: Offers a pattern of drug use over time rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Recent intake detection: Drugs become detectable in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is often misleading, as it examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Cisco, GA, is heralded as a superior alternative to traditional urine testing. The robust detection capability of hair tests far exceeds that of urine tests, offering enhanced accuracy. With a broader detection window, hair tests ensure reliable results even when facing attempts of tampering.
Certainty in Results is one of the hallmarks of hair testing, making it preferable for stringent drug policies.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Cisco, GA, leverage hair follicle tests for their extended detection capability, providing insight into drug use spanning up to 90 days.
This extended window offers a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance habits.

• Empowers employers with detailed insights
• Ensures a historical view of substance use

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Security and reliability are paramount in Cisco, GA, with hair follicle tests providing a tamper-resistant solution. These tests minimize the risks associated with sample adulteration, ensuring trustworthy and accurate results.
Integrity of Testing reinforces employer confidence, making hair tests a trusted option in environments where accuracy is critical.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous nationwide centers, including Cisco, GA, locating a testing site is convenient and hassle-free. Our streamlined Local Availability ensures quick access to hair follicle drug tests.

• Widespread accessibility
• Simplified testing process

Simple, Confidential Process

In Cisco, GA, our hair follicle testing service prides itself on a simple and confidential process. We ensure ordering, conducting the test, and receiving results are seamless and discreet.

• Streamlined order processes
• Secure and confidential result handling

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Cisco, GA, our hair follicle tests provide exceptional value. Affordability ensures that businesses, irrespective of size, can access top-tier testing without financial strain.
Value-Driven Services reflect our commitment to providing budget-friendly options that do not compromise on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cisco, GA, hair follicle drug tests are synonymous with speed, accuracy, and reliability. Their inherent design ensures rapid and precise outcomes for substance detection, making them indispensable for timely decision-making.
Ultra-Accurate Results are guaranteed due to the ability of hair tests to provide an in-depth and precise analysis of substance use, offering peace of mind to those relying on the results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Cisco, GA, hair follicle testing is crucial for adherence to drug-free workplace policies. By adopting these tests, employers ensure compliance, mitigate legal risks, and bolster workplace safety.

• Enhances organizational safety
• Strengthens compliance measures

Drug Testing Near Cisco, GA

Dalton, GA

Ramhurst, GA

Higdon-Mobile, GA

Waring, GA

Spring Place, GA

Varnell, GA

North Whitfield, GA

Chatsworth, GA

Cohutta, GA

Eton, GA

Crandall-Eton, GA

Sumac, GA

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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