Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kite, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair tests have emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of substance use by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can present approximately a 3-month detection window for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.

Gathering a 1.5-inch segment of 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred sample for screening and verification. For EtG, additional panels, and/or testing beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair is permissible. When addressing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four core steps in laboratory drug test processing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step involving the introduction of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This encompasses confirming the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any absent data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While screening is a cost-efficient method for eliminating drug usage in most samples, any positive findings require confirmation to be legally permissible in court. Samples that are initially positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

In instances where a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are withdrawn from the hair at concentrations considerably lower than those used in other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a particularly challenging method to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as needed. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, compared to urine tests which offer a shorter timeframe.
• Difficult to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is notably challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insights: It offers an overview of drug patterns over time, beyond mere recent use.

Limitations:

• Can't determine recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result discrepancies: Variables like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the examination is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Kite, GA outperforms traditional urine tests in multiple ways. With superior detection accuracy and reliability, hair tests not only reveal longer detection windows but also eliminate tampering risks associated with urine samples, making them a preferred choice for validating drug-free statuses.

Extended Detection Window

For those in Kite, GA, seeking an in-depth view of substance usage history, hair follicle testing is unparalleled. With detection capabilities extending up to 90 days, employers receive a comprehensive picture of any substance use habits, supporting informed hiring and monitoring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the standout features of hair follicle testing in Kite, GA is its resilience against tampering. The method ensures specimens are far less susceptible to adulteration compared to other testing methods, providing trustworthy and credible results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our widespread network of testing facilities, including local centers in Kite, GA, makes drug testing accessible. The convenience of nationwide locations guarantees quick, seamless access to our testing services, reducing any barriers to getting tested.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Kite, GA, ordering and completing a hair follicle test is a straightforward and confidential process. We prioritize user privacy, ensuring that from ordering to receiving results, participants experience convenience and discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times in Kite, GA, underscoring our commitment to affordability. This ensures we provide excellent value and prompt results to companies of all sizes looking for efficient drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Kite, GA, hair follicle drug tests offer unrivaled precision and speed, making them an ideal choice for accurate substance detection. These tests provide high accuracy, ensuring that substance use is accurately reported, reflecting an individual's true substance consumption.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Kite, GA gain peace of mind by utilizing hair follicle tests, ensuring strict adherence to drug-free work policies. This testing method minimizes legal risks and strengthens workplace safety, serving as a protective measure for organizations.

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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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