Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Maxeys, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer an extended timeline for identifying alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers in the hair's fibers. When taken from near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to around 90 days for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with approximately 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for testing and verification. For EtG tests, add-ons, or panels beyond ten, a 150mg sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair solely. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Steps in Processing

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test comprises four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the first step of integrating a sample into the lab's system. This phase checks the sample's seal and shipment, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completes missing data entry not available from electronic chain of custody systems.

Screening acts as a preliminary check for abusive drug presence. Although Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result needs to be confirmed for legal acceptance. Samples showing presumptive positives during Screening need secondary confirmation.

If a test shows presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample to prepare for the Extraction phase. Here, the drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug tests among the most intricate to perform.

Any positive screening outcome undergoes Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation based on necessity. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the full laboratory workflow is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and aligned with ISO / IEC 17025 norms.

Benefits of Hair Drug Tests:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can recognize drug usage up to 90 days prior, as opposed to urine tests with a less extensive detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, leading to more reliable outcomes.
• Offers usage history: It reveals drug usage patterns over time, not solely recent activities.

Drawbacks:

• Limited in detecting recent consumption: Drugs take about 5-7 days before becoming noticeable in hair.
• Cost considerations: Hair drug assessments are typically pricier than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: While commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the scalp's hair follicle

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Maxeys, GA, acknowledges hair testing as superior to urine tests due to its broader detection range, catching substances that would otherwise be missed.

Unmatched in accuracy, hair follicle tests provide detailed insights compared to traditional urine methods known for a short detection window.

Trust in hair testing lies in its ability to reveal long-term substance use, unlike urine tests which can return negative for recent consumption.

Extended Detection Window

Maxeys, GA, benefits from hair follicle testing that extends the detection window to 90 days, offering a clear view of long-term substance use.

This method is favored for its comprehensive coverage, ensuring that no recent drug activity goes unnoticed in employee evaluations.

Employers gain confidence from a test that portrays an accurate picture of drug history, unavailable through short-term urine testing.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Maxeys, GA, is renowned for reducing adulteration risks, delivering irrefutable test results.

The robust nature of these tests ensures that no external manipulation can alter the substance detection outcome.

Employers trust hair testing for its integrity, as tampering is nearly impossible, guaranteeing accurate assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Maxeys, GA, connects to a vast network of hair testing centers that promise easy access and convenience.

Nationwide availability ensures minimal hassle when scheduling or attending a testing appointment.

Employers and individuals in Maxeys benefit from numerous local options.

Simple, Confidential Process

The discreet and straightforward process of hair follicle testing in Maxeys, GA, reassures those concerned with privacy.

Ordering, sampling, and receiving test results are seamless, emphasizing user-friendliness for test participants.

Confidential handling of data and results ensures peace of mind for all involved in the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Maxeys, GA, offers competitive pricing for hair follicle testing, appealing to businesses of all sizes without compromising quality.

Affordable costs combined with quick turnaround times make this testing method a favored solution for substance detection.

Cost-efficiency does not equate to lesser value, as thorough and reliable results remain the standard.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Maxeys, GA, hair follicle drug testing provides fast and precise results. With advanced technology, these tests surpass traditional methods in identifying substance use history.

The efficiency in detecting various substances makes hair follicle tests the ideal choice for quick results alongside high reliability.

With a streamlined process, hair tests yield accurate findings promptly, accommodating employers’ and authorities’ timelines.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Maxeys, GA, achieve compliance with workplace drug policies via reliable hair follicle tests, fostering safety and legal assurance.

Safe work environments are fortified through consistent use of hair tests, minimizing risk of non-compliance.

Assured by precision, these tests prevent legal disputes, reinforcing a drug-free workplace commitment.

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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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