Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Collins, GA

What it is, How it works

The perception of hair testing has evolved into recognizing it as a highly effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. It provides an extended timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair. Collected near the scalp, hair offers a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

Obtain a sample of 1.5 inches, approximately 200 strands (akin to a #2 pencil), nearest to the scalp to acquire 100mg of hair, suited for evaluation and verification. For EtG, additional assessments, and/or over 10-panel tests, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing is suggested. In cases where scalp hair is absent, collect an equivalent quantity of body hair. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result incorporates four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample within a laboratory setup. This process ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening efficiently rules out drug use for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for court admissibility. Any presumptive positive findings during Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is deemed presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction step. Drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging to execute.

Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo a wash before confirmation, as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection window: Hair drug tests can trace drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is significantly challenging, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Chronicles past usage: Provides insights into a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent usage: Drugs are detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other testing techniques.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth might influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Distinguishing itself from traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Collins, GA, provides superior detection accuracy and reliability. These tests offer an extended detection window, chronicling substance use over months, offering a more reliable assessment of an individual's drug use history. Hair tests are a wise choice for employers seeking to maintain stringent drug-free policies.

Hair testing is not only difficult to circumvent, but also provides a longer detection window than urine tests, typically capturing up to 90 days of drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

Given its extended detection period of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Collins, GA, arms employers with a comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug use history. This broader inspection period is invaluable for employers vetting candidates or monitoring employees, as it uncovers substance use that might otherwise go unnoticed in shorter detection periods.

Employers in Collins, GA, can trust this method to give them a thorough insight into potential drug use over a considerable period, ensuring more informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Collins, GA, significantly reduces the potential for sample tampering, offering solid assurance of the test's results. The integrity of hair samples is preserved from collection to analysis, diminishing the likelihood of adulteration that might affect test outcomes.

This tamper-resistant testing mode ensures employers and authorities have access to reliable testing data, fostering confidence in the results obtained and supporting stringent policy enforcement.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous nationwide testing centers, including those in Collins, GA, Accredited Drug Testing offers unparalleled convenience for all drug testing needs. Individuals and employers alike benefit from easy access to our services, ensuring a hassle-free testing experience that aligns with their specific requirements.

Our expansive network ensures tests are conducted efficiently, simplifying the process regardless of location, thereby streamlining operations for businesses.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ordering and receiving hair follicle testing results in Collins, GA, is both simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively. The streamlined process ensures ease of use, from the initial ordering stage through to the conclusion when results are received.

This emphasis on confidentiality and simplicity is crucial for clients seeking efficient and discreet drug testing, ensuring that their privacy and convenience are prioritized throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Collins, GA, emphasizes affordability and fast turnaround times, offering competitive pricing without compromising on service quality. Our efficient processes ensure swift results, thereby providing excellent value for companies of all sizes.

This balance between cost and rapid service empowers businesses to maintain vigilant substance monitoring without excessive expenditure, supporting overall operational efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Collins, GA, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their speed and accuracy, offering precise detection of substance use. These tests provide results that employers can rely on, due to the detailed analysis they encompass. The rapid processing of hair samples ensures timely outcomes, crucial for employers making informed decisions quickly.

Employing this advanced testing method guarantees detection of a wide range of substances with unparalleled precision, thereby enhancing workplace safety.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Collins, GA, utilizing hair follicle testing supports adherence to workplace drug-free policies, offering compliance and reducing legal risks. The assurance of accurate and comprehensive testing furthers workplace safety, granting peace of mind in maintaining a secure and compliant work environment.

This proactive approach to substance monitoring shields companies from legal repercussions associated with drug use, cementing a culture of safety and responsibility.

Drug Testing Near Collins, GA

Metter, GA

Johnson Corner, GA

Evans, GA

Santa Claus, GA

Lyons, GA

Excelsior, GA

Claxton, GA

Aline, GA

Hagan, GA

Cobbtown, GA

Reidsville, GA

Ohoopee, GA

Manassas, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews