Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Duncanville, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for detecting substance and alcohol use. It offers a comprehensive history by retaining biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair can provide a roughly three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A segment measuring 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal sample size for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a sample size of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair forms (such as facial and axillary).

Procedure Overview

The four key phases in the lab processing of a drug test sample are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handles any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs. Though Screening is a cost-efficient way to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples appearing positive during Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

If Screening suggests a positive result, further hair is taken from the main sample for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most intricate method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Hard to falsify: It's challenging to deceive a hair drug test, which enhances result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, beyond recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Cannot identify recent use: It typically takes 5-7 days for drugs to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally more costly compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Duncanville, GA

Hair testing provides notable advantages over traditional urine tests. It delivers a superior detection window, capturing a broader substance use timeline. With increased accuracy and reduced chances of tampering, it is a preferred method among employers in Duncanville, GA seeking reliable drug testing solutions.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Duncanville, GA

Employers favor hair follicle tests due to their extended detection span, offering up to 90 days of substance usage insight. This longer overview helps companies in Duncanville, GA evaluate applicant or employee histories comprehensively, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Duncanville, GA

Reducing the potential for sample tampering, hair follicle drug tests ensure indisputable integrity. This testing method fortifies the results' reliability, providing Duncanville, GA businesses with a trustworthy method to verify substance use, minimizing any risks of result manipulation or dishonesty.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Duncanville, GA

Accredited Drug Testing's comprehensive network ensures easy access to testing across the nation, with facilities located conveniently in Duncanville, GA. Our widespread centers provide straightforward and hassle-free solutions for all testing needs, catering to diverse client requirements efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Duncanville, GA

We prioritize privacy and ease with a seamless order, test, and result receipt process. Our stakeholders in Duncanville, GA experience confidentiality and comfort, ensuring all testing aspects are handled with utmost discretion and efficiency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Duncanville, GA

Offering competitive pricing structures for all sizes of organizations, we assure rapid result delivery without compromising quality. Our services in Duncanville, GA cater to businesses seeking cost-effective yet reliable testing solutions, ensuring value and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Duncanville, GA

The precision and quick processing of hair follicle drug tests make them ideal for those requiring definitive substance detection. Offering exceptional accuracy rates, hair tests ensure users get trustworthy results promptly, aiding those in Duncanville, GA in making informed decisions regarding substance use assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Duncanville, GA

Utilizing hair follicle testing not only aligns with drug-free workplace policies but also diminishes legal complications. It enhances workplace safety, offering peace to Duncanville, GA companies by ensuring compliance and proactively mitigating potential drug-related office incidents.

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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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