Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Norwood, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has evolved into an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term records of alcohol and drugs by sealing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to around 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which serves as the optimal sample for assessment and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or panels beyond 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not present, a comparable amount of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we refer to scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core stages in the lab process of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning signifies the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This process ensures the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not offered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an affordable method to eliminate drug consumption in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in court. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening need additional confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is collected from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are withdrawn from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is deemed the most challenging approach to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen results is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples hinting at positivity are cleansed before confirmation, as required. The entire lab approach from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can track drug usage for as long as 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which have a shorter detection duration.
• Resistant to deception: It is highly challenging to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insights: Provides a drug use pattern over some time, not limited to recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent consumption: It typically takes 5-7 days for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual growth variation may influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis specifically targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Norwood, GA, surpasses traditional urine testing by offering enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. This method's superior ability to capture long-term substance use patterns makes it invaluable. Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide a broader detection window, resulting in more comprehensive assessments.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Norwood, GA, captures drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days, offering employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history. This expanded window allows for a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate or employee's drug use behavior.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Norwood, GA, the hair follicle test is lauded for its resilience against tampering, ensuring reliable and indisputable results. This method's robust design minimizes the risk of adulteration, making it a trustworthy choice for organizations seeking dependable drug testing solutions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers extensive convenience with nationwide and local testing centers, including in Norwood, GA. This network ensures efficient, accessible, and hassle-free drug testing, catering to diverse needs across various regions.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our clients in Norwood, GA, appreciate the straightforward and confidential approach of the hair follicle testing process. Ordering, conducting, and receiving results are seamless, maintaining user privacy and boosting confidence in the testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Norwood, GA, we provide affordable pricing and swift test result delivery, ensuring businesses of all sizes benefit from outstanding value and reassurance in their drug testing regimen. Competitive rates and fast turnaround times underpin our commitment to client satisfaction.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Norwood, GA, hair follicle drug testing stands out with its remarkable precision and speed. The advanced method ensures high accuracy, effectively identifying substance use over time. Rapid result processing allows stakeholders to make informed decisions without delays, enhancing the overall efficiency of drug testing programs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Norwood, GA, gain peace of mind through hair follicle testing's alignment with drug-free workplace policies. This method supports compliance, reducing legal liabilities while promoting a safe work environment, thus enhancing both operational and safety standards.

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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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