Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sand Mountain, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as a compelling method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It provides a prolonged history by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When clipped near the scalp, hair offers an estimated 3-month detection window for alcohol and drugs. Hair is convenient to gather, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to send.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for initial and confirmatory tests. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale is suggested. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers to only scalp hair; "body hair" refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in processing a drug test in the lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning begins with entering a sample into a lab’s system. This includes confirming whether the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary examination for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient means to filter out drug usage in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for court acceptance. Samples that screen positive presumptively need secondary confirmation.

If a sample screens positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS is used for confirming any positive screening outcomes. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleaned as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can uncover drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Cheating difficulty: It's very challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing accuracy.
• Historical data provision: It reveals a drug use pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Lacks detection of recent use: It takes around 5-7 days before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Variances such as hair color and individual hair growth can alter drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests in Sand Mountain, GA, due to its superior detection capabilities. While urine tests detect recent drug use, hair tests offer a broader detection window, enhancing accuracy and dependability. This makes hair follicle tests a preferred choice for employers and legal authorities, providing a more comprehensive screening solution.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing, up to 90 days, provides employers in Sand Mountain, GA, with a thorough overview of an individual's substance use history. This long detection period allows for an in-depth assessment, facilitating informed hiring and monitoring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

With hair follicle testing in Sand Mountain, GA, the chances of sample tampering are significantly minimized. The integrity of the samples remains intact throughout the process, delivering results that are both reliable and beyond reproach, thus ensuring confidence in the testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

For residents of Sand Mountain, GA, and beyond, our nationwide network of testing centers guarantees convenient access to hair follicle tests. With both local and widespread facilities, securing a test is a quick and straightforward process, eliminating any hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Sand Mountain, GA, is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering the test to collecting the sample and receiving results, the procedure emphasizes privacy and ease, addressing any concerns about confidentiality and user-friendliness.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Sand Mountain, GA, becomes an affordable option for companies regardless of size. Our pricing structure provides cost-effective solutions coupled with fast results, ensuring excellent value and reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Sand Mountain, GA residents benefit from the fast, accurate, and reliable results of hair follicle drug tests. The precision of these tests stems from their robust methodology, ensuring high accuracy in detecting various substances. Unlike traditional methods, hair follicle testing provides quick results without compromising on reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers seeking compliance with drug-free workplace policies in Sand Mountain, GA, find hair follicle testing ideal. By utilizing these tests, businesses can mitigate legal risks, ensure safety, and maintain peace of mind, knowing that their workplace is free from substance abuse issues.

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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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