Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Clarkdale, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair examination is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair shaft as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or assessments beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the specimen utilizing a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent volume of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, it refers solely to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Summary

The primary stages involved in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary processing of a specimen into a lab’s system. This entails confirming that the specimen was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data input not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage in the majority of specimens, a positive screen needs to be corroborated to be acceptable in legal proceedings. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening do require a further confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a notably lower concentration than in other methodologies (ex. urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging methodology to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: It is immensely challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical insight: It can reveal a trend of drug usage over time, not just recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of uncovering recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally costlier than other drug testing approaches.
• Result disparities: Aspects like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the test itself analyzes the hair shaft and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle and urine drug testing in Clarkdale, GA, hair analysis stands out as a superior method. Hair tests offer enhanced detection accuracy and reliability, making them a preferred choice for employers who require rigorous drug screening protocols.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Clarkdale, GA, offer an extended detection period of up to 90 days. This longer window provides a more comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use history, aiding employers in making informed hiring or retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Clarkdale, GA, hair follicle drug tests are recognized for their resistance to tampering. This testing method ensures the integrity of results, significantly diminishing the chances of sample manipulation and providing reliable outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide and local testing centers in Clarkdale, GA, our services are accessible, offering quick and seamless access to drug testing. This widespread availability ensures no disruption to employers' operations or employee obligations.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Clarkdale, GA, the process for hair testing is simple and confidential. From initiating a test to receiving results, clients experience a streamlined procedure that respects their privacy and offers ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Clarkdale, GA, our hair testing services are competitively priced, providing fast turnaround times. Businesses of all sizes benefit from affordable offerings that ensure both value and rapid results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests in Clarkdale, GA, offer unparalleled accuracy for substance detection. These assessments provide fast, dependable results, enabling timely decision-making. They have become a crucial tool in ensuring safe and compliant environments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Clarkdale, GA, hair follicle testing offers peace of mind by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This screening method reduces legal liabilities and enhances workplace safety and employee 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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