Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Georgetown, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair records a long-term timeline of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within its fibers as the strand grows. Once collected near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use information for up to roughly three months. Collection is uncomplicated, tampering is challenging, and shipping is straightforward.

A 1.5-inch sample containing about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equal quantity of body hair may be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial step of integrating a sample into the lab's system. This phase ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any extra data input not included by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary examination for drugs of abuse. While screening is a cost-effective method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive result must be verified to be court-admissible. Presumptive positive samples from Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

In cases of presumptive positivity during Screening, more hair is gathered from the sample for the Extraction phase. This stage extracts drugs from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underlining hair drug screening as the most challenging method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening finding occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection period.
• Integrity of results: The difficulty in faking a hair drug test increases result accuracy.
• Historical insights: It provides a temporal drug use pattern, not just recent use insight.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternate drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Georgetown, GA, hair follicle testing is superior to traditional urine tests. Its extended detection period offers a longer retrospective view into substance use, uncovering habits that urine tests might miss.

Reliability is a cornerstone of hair testing, making it a preferred choice for employers focused on accuracy over short-term drug detection.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Georgetown, GA, offers an extended detection window. This method checks for drug use up to 90 days prior, providing a holistic view of a person's substance use history.

The longer detection span is particularly beneficial for employers, helping them evaluate an individual's long-term habits effectively, ensuring a safer work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Georgetown, GA, relies on hair follicle testing for its tamper-resistant nature. The test significantly minimizes the possibility of sample tampering, ensuring dependable results.

With this method, the integrity of the test is maintained, as the chances of adulteration are remarkably reduced compared to other testing approaches.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide and local testing centers in Georgetown, GA, offer convenience. Testing services are accessible and hassle-free, with facilities spread across the nation to meet the needs of any schedule.

Our easily accessible locations ensure that drug testing is not a logistical challenge for individuals or businesses in need of such services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Georgetown, GA, is simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is designed to address privacy concerns, ensuring ease of use.

Individuals can expect a straightforward experience, with privacy and confidentiality prioritized at every stage of the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Georgetown, GA, benefits from competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle tests. Businesses of all sizes find value in our cost-effective and timely services.

Cost efficiency combined with rapid result delivery provides a good balance between affordability and quality in drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Georgetown, GA, offers unparalleled accuracy. It can identify substance use with high precision, providing trustworthy results. Testing processes are expedited, ensuring that results are both quick and reliable.

The efficiency of hair follicle testing makes it a top choice for those seeking fast turnaround times. Not only is the test precise, but it also ensures dependable detection of various substances.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Georgetown, GA, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal liabilities and promoting workplace safety.

By adopting this testing approach, companies can confidently maintain their commitment to a secure and accountable work environment.

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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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