Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lakeview, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a history of drugs over an extended period by embedding biomarkers within the fiber of the hair as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, it provides a detection timeframe of up to roughly 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and convenient for mailing.

A specimen of 1.5 inches, comprising approximately 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) closest to the scalp, yields 100mg, which is optimal for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or more extensive panels beyond 10, 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale for measuring. If head hair is not available, a matching quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean solely the hair on the scalp. Body hair pertains to all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The drug test processing in a lab mainly includes Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning denotes the initial step of entering a sample within a lab’s framework. It involves verifying if the sample is sealed and transported correctly, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any extra data not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening performs an initial cursory test for drugs. Although it’s a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug use in most cases, a positive result must be confirmed for court purposes. Any samples testing positive initially in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

Upon receiving a positive indication in Screening, additional hair is collected from the primary specimen for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing uniquely challenging to execute.

Confirmation of positive Screening outcomes is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if required. The full lab workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair categorization and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can detect drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests cover a shorter timeframe.
• High resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Chronological data: Hair testing reveals a drug use pattern over an extended duration, not just recent history.

Limitations:

• Ineffective for recent use detection: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after usage.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing options.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and growth rate variability can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests", these tests assess the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Surpasses Urine Testing in Lakeview, GA This method offers a longer detection period, enabling employers to make informed decisions. Hair analysis provides more accurate and reliable results, positioning it as a superior choice over traditional urine testing. Its capacity to identify recent and long-term drug use makes it invaluable.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Lakeview, GA provides extended detection capabilities. By offering a review of drug usage over up to 90 days, employers gain deeper insights into an employee's history. This extensive window allows for a more thorough evaluation of potential hires, ensuring workplaces maintain their standards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The integrity of hair follicle tests in Lakeview, GA is unparalleled. These assessments significantly diminish the chance of tampering. Their design ensures accuracy and reliability, providing managers with unquestionable substance analysis. Employers can have confidence that the results genuinely reflect an individual's drug use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Testing in Lakeview, GA is made easy with our conveniently located testing facilities. Accredited Drug Testing provides a hassle-free experience through nationwide centers, ensuring our clients have easy access to drug testing services wherever they are located.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lakeview, GA, our drug testing process is as simple as it is confidential. Clients can order, undergo, and receive results with ease, and privacy concerns are kept to a minimum. This streamlined protocol makes the experience both accessible and discreet for all involved parties.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Lakeview, GA residents benefit from our cost-effective pricing and prompt service. Our competitive prices combined with fast turnaround times ensure that companies of any size receive excellent value. Employers can rest assured knowing that the investment in testing is both budget-friendly and high-quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Lakeview, GA, the precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug testing are unmatched. This method reliably identifies substance use with impressive accuracy, ensuring quick, dependable outcomes. The meticulous process guarantees that results perfectly reflect an individual's drug use history, offering confidence to employers and authorities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Lakeview, GA, benefit from the compliance and peace of mind offered by hair follicle testing. Utilizing these assessments ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. Implementing this method mitigates legal risks and fortifies workplace safety, comforting employers about their diligence and due diligence.

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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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