Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shawnee, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows, hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs. When samples are taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal substance use over a period of roughly 3 months for both alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in thickness) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimum amount for both initial and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional assessments, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. We advise measuring the sample weight using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent portion of body hair can be used. Note that when mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary hair, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab processing of drug test outcomes are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step of logging a sample into the lab’s system. This step involves ensuring correct sample sealing and shipping procedures, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening offers an economical method for dismissing drug usage in most samples, any positive result necessitates confirmation for court acceptance. Presumptively positive samples in Screening require subsequent verification.

Should a specimen test presumptively positive at the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample to prepare for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower levels than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening findings is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All preliminarily positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair tests can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection duration.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, thereby enhancing result reliability.
• Substantial historical insight: Offers a comprehensive view of drug consumption trends over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate use: It generally takes 5-7 days for substances to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing approaches.
• Result variability: Variables like hair shade and personal hair growth rates can influence the levels of drug metabolites present.

Note: Despite being commonly called “hair follicle tests”, this method examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why does hair follicle testing prevail over urine testing? In Shawnee, GA, hair tests exhibit superior detection accuracy due in part to their longer detection periods. Unlike urine tests, which detect recent use, hair follicle testing identifies drug use over months, offering a clearer picture of long-term behaviors.

With a window of up to 90 days, hair testing ensures reliable assessments in detecting substance use history—much more robust than traditional urine tests, which are suited only for short-term detection.

Extended Detection Window

Shawnee, GA benefits significantly from hair follicle testing due to its extended detection window. This method captures drug use over 90 days, providing a thorough historical insight. Such a comprehensive view of substance intake is unmatched by shorter detection methods.

The broad detection period of hair tests allows employers to evaluate the continuous nature of an individual's substance patterns, unlike tests that only report recent usage.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Employing a tamper-resistant testing method like hair follicle tests in Shawnee, GA, reduces the risk of tampering or sample adulteration significantly. The secure nature of hair samples ensures reliability and integrity in results, offering peace of mind.

The direct observation during the sample collection makes the hair follicle testing method hard to manipulate, thereby enhancing its unquestionable reliability compared to other testing options.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Shawnee, GA, convenience is key with our nationwide testing locations. With extensive coverage, accessing testing services is straightforward and hassle-free. Our testing centers ensure swiftness and efficiency at every stage.

Offering local convenience and ease, our extensive network guarantees fast access and simplicity in arranging tests without unnecessary delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

Shawnee, GA professionals benefit from a simple, confidential process for hair follicle testing. From ordering to receiving results, the entire system addresses privacy concerns effectively, ensuring user confidentiality and ease of use.

Simplicity combined with security allows participants to engage with testing services stress-free, confident in the safeguarding of their critical information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our affordable pricing and fast turnaround in Shawnee, GA make hair follicle tests a worthy investment. Companies of all sizes appreciate the value and peace of mind these services provide, coupled with cost-effectiveness.

Our competitive pricing, combined with quick result delivery, ensures that testing is both financially accessible and highly efficient, benefitting diverse business needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing provides fast, accurate, and reliable results in Shawnee, GA. This method assures high precision in substance use detection, allowing for swift processing and dependable outcomes. The nature of hair testing makes it a preferred option for those seeking trustworthy and quick assessments.

The precision of hair follicle testing ensures that results are consistent and dependable. Speedy result delivery coupled with accuracy makes it highly sought after in the testing community.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Peace of mind for employers in Shawnee, GA, is achieved through hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal risks while enhancing safety in the workplace, providing a robust tool for employer reassurance.

Employers adopting hair follicle tests benefit from a reliable system that supports the enforcement of zero-tolerance policies and complies with necessary regulations efficiently.

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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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