Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Leslie, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is regarded as an effective method for identifying substance use involving drugs and alcohol. Hair retains evidence of these substances over time by embedding biomarkers in the hair strand fibers as they grow. When hair is harvested near the scalp, it can reveal a detection period for substances lasting up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and easily transported.

A sample of 1.5 inches containing roughly 200 hair strands (approximately equivalent to the girth of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For advanced testing, such as EtG addons or screenings beyond 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Procedure Summary

There are four key phases in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Verification.

Accessioning involves the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system. This phase includes checking that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering any supplemental data not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary check for drug presence. While cost-effective for excluding drug presence in most cases, a positive Screening result requires further confirmation for legal acceptability. Any positive indications during Screening need a confirmatory test.

Should a sample return a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample for further processing in the Extraction phase. Here, the extraction of drugs from hair occurs at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

The confirmation of positive Screening results is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are washed before confirmation if necessary. The full lab workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Hair drug testing benefits:

• Extended detection period: Compared to urine tests, hair analyses can detect drug presence up to 90 days.
• Reduced potential for tampering: Hair drug tests possess higher accuracy since they’re hard to manipulate.
• Trace usage patterns: They offer insight into long-term use patterns over time, as opposed to just recent actions.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair about 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is often pricier compared to other testing alternatives.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual growth variations can influence the concentration of drug metabolites.

Note: Although sometimes termed "hair follicle tests," the examination actually focuses on the hair strand rather than the subdermal follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Leslie, GA

• Hair testing provides superior detection accuracy over traditional urine tests.
• The reliability of hair tests is unmatched, offering detailed insights.
• Longer detection windows set hair testing apart from urine tests.

Employers in Leslie, GA find hair tests more effective, attributing to their detailed detection and greater accuracy compared to urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Leslie, GA

• Hair follicle testing offers a broad detection window of up to 90 days.
• It provides a comprehensive view into an individual's drug use history.
• Employers gain more insights into a potential hire's substance behaviors.

Businesses in Leslie, GA prefer extended detection through hair testing to understand an employee or applicant better.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Leslie, GA

• The risk of sample adulteration is significantly reduced in hair tests.
• The tamper-resistant nature assures results are uncontaminated.
• Reliability of the results is unquestionable and trusted by courts.

In Leslie, GA, the tamper-proof nature of hair testing ensures honesty and dependability in drug use detection.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Leslie, GA

• Our testing centers are spread Nationwide for easy access.
• Local centers ensure a hassle-free testing experience in Leslie, GA.
• Emphasizing convenience, we provide quick and simple testing services.

With centers located throughout Leslie, GA, accessing drug testing services has never been easier.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Leslie, GA

• The process for ordering and receiving results is straightforward.
• We ensure complete confidentiality, respecting privacy concerns.
• Taking tests is easy, offering convenience to individuals and businesses.

Leslie, GA customers appreciate the discreet and easy nature of hair testing, ensuring confidentiality and simplicity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Leslie, GA

• Competitive pricing structures provide excellent value.
• Quick turnaround ensures timely results.
• Companies of all sizes benefit from our service offerings.

Leslie, GA businesses find our affordable pricing and quick results crucial in maintaining efficiency and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Leslie, GA

• Hair follicle tests offer exceptional speed and precision.
• They accurately detect substances used over a long period.
• The process ensures results that employers can trust.

In Leslie, GA, the emphasis on hair tests is attributed to their swift and accurate detection capabilities, ensuring conclusions that are both fast and dependable.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Leslie, GA

• Hair tests help companies comply with drug-free policies.
• The legal risks are reduced, promoting workplace safety.
• Employers gain peace of mind knowing they meet compliance standards.

Leslie, GA employers utilize hair testing as a safeguard, ensuring policy adherence while enhancing workplace safety.

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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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