Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lenox, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers in the strands as hair grows, it offers a detailed historical account. When sourced close to the scalp, hair can reveal a history of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches, made up of roughly 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken near the scalp will provide 100mg, which is ideal for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler's scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent body hair sample can be used. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes any other hair type (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The testing process in a laboratory involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample enters the lab's system. This step includes verifying the sample's seal and shipment, allotting a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional data not available through an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a swift preliminary check for substance abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach for eliminating drug use in most samples, any positive findings need verification to be used in legal settings. Presumed positive samples in the Screening must undergo further confirmation.

If a sample shows a positive indication during Screening, additional hair from the original sample is selected for Extraction. Here, substances are withdrawn from hair at a much lower concentration than seen in alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is quite intricate.

Verification of any Screening positives is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicated as positive undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can determine drug use for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Challenging to deceive: It's notably difficult to manipulate hair drug tests, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It can show a timeline of drug consumption, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair testing is typically pricier than other methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Lenox, GA

Hair follicle drug tests offer distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. They boast superior accuracy in identifying substance use over extended periods. While urine tests may detect drugs used days prior, hair tests provide a broader detection timeline, offering better insight into an individual's substance habits.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Lenox, GA

Hair follicle testing offers an advantage with its extensive detection window of up to 90 days. Employers gain a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history, useful for making informed decisions regarding hiring and maintaining workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Lenox, GA

Hair follicle tests are known for their resistance to tampering. The direct collection method minimizes the chances of adulteration, ensuring that results remain reliable and beyond dispute. This makes hair testing an excellent choice for maintaining integrity in drug screenings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Lenox, GA

Our extensive network of nationwide testing centers makes accessing drug testing services quick and easy. Locals in Lenox, GA, benefit from nearby facilities ensuring that testing is hassle-free, convenient, and accessible wherever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Lenox, GA

The process for hair follicle drug testing is straightforward and ensures confidentiality. From ordering to result delivery, privacy concerns are addressed, providing a smooth experience for users while respecting their personal information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Lenox, GA

We offer competitive pricing for hair follicle drug testing, coupled with quick turnaround times. This delivers significant value to companies, ensuring they receive quality testing services without undue financial burden and without delays.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Lenox, GA

Hair follicle drug tests stand out for their rapid and precise results. With high accuracy in identifying various substances, they serve as a reliable tool for employers and legal entities. These tests ensure prompt feedback, enhancing decision-making and ensuring timely interventions when necessary.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Lenox, GA

Using hair follicle testing aligns with workplace drug-free policies, helping businesses adhere to compliance standards. By reducing legal risks and enhancing safety, these tests provide employers with peace of mind, supporting a secure working 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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