Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Reynolds, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective means for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of drugs and alcohol through trapping biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair provides a detection window of up to nearly 3 months for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising around 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to use a jeweler's scale for measuring the specimen. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. When discussing head hair, only scalp hair is considered. Body hair covers all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the laboratory processing of drug test results are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completes any further data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid examination for misuse of drugs. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be acceptable in court. Any samples showing presumptively positive results during Screening require subsequent confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Preparation in Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations much lower compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening among the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, compared to urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Hard to deceive: It is extremely challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, thereby enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Supplies historical data: It can demonstrate a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Variability in outcomes: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests," the test itself examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Reynolds, GA, stands out against traditional urine testing due to its unparalleled detection precision and reliability. Hair tests provide a wider detection window, identifying substance use long after initial intake.

The extensive detection period surpasses urine tests, offering employers more comprehensive data. Additionally, its collection process diminishes chances of falsification, ensuring honest results.

Extended Detection Window

In Reynolds, GA, hair follicle tests reveal drug use history spanning up to 90 days. This extended detection period offers employers extensive insights into an individual's substance habits.

Employers benefit by obtaining a broader overview of a candidate's history, not just recent behavior. This comprehensive perspective aids in informed hiring decisions, enhancing workplace integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Reynolds, GA, minimizes the risk of tampering, yielding results that are reliable and credible. The sample collection process is robust, reducing chances of adulteration.

This tamper-resistant nature ensures confidence in results, supporting employers in maintaining a drug-free environment. Such reliability strengthens trust in testing outcomes and ensures compliance.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing simplifies access to services with convenient locations throughout Reynolds, GA, and nationwide. This widespread availability guarantees a hassle-free testing experience for users.

Our strategic placement of centers allows for easy access, ensuring that testing is not only quick but smooth and effortless.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Reynolds, GA, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy and ease-of-use concerns. Order, take, and receive your results with minimal hassle.

This seamless approach ensures that privacy is upheld and that users can quickly navigate through the testing process with assurance.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Reynolds, GA, we offer competitive pricing for hair follicle testing, ensuring excellent value. With quick turnaround times, companies receive timely, accurate results without breaking the bank.

This affordability combined with efficiency ensures businesses, regardless of size, can maintain safety and compliance cost-effectively.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Reynolds, GA, hair follicle testing ensures rapid, precise, and dependable results. Its high accuracy in identifying substance use surpasses traditional methods, offering a valuable tool for employers seeking reliable information.

The speed of processing hair samples provides timely feedback, aiding in quick decision-making processes. Companies benefit from this efficiency, enhancing their operational dynamics.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Reynolds, GA, businesses, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free policies, reducing legal liabilities. It empowers employers with peace of mind knowing that their workplace remains safe and compliant.

By adopting this rigorous testing method, companies reinforce their commitment to safety standards, protecting both their reputation and workforce.

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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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