Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sumner, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair tests have gained recognition as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands encapsulate a long-term record of substance use by securing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, it allows up to roughly a 3-month detection period for substances. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

Providing a 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (akin to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp results in 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for initial screening and confirmation procedures. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is suggested to gather 150mg of the sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is advisable. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. Here, scalp hair refers exclusively to head hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Summary

The drug testing in laboratories involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning deals with the initial handling of a specimen into a lab’s system. This process includes checking if the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning a randomized LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data input not covered by electronic custody chains.

Screening acts as a preliminary test for substance abuse. Though Screening is an economical approach for excluding drug use in most cases, a positive result needs confirmation to be usable legally. Any samples that show presumptive positives in Screening need further confirmation.

Should a specimen show a presumptive positive in the Screening stage, additional hair from the original sample is used for Extraction. Here, substances are separated from the hair in much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which makes hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Any screening that tests positive is verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is checked under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests allow detection of drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a narrower detection range.
• Hard to manipulate: It is quite hard to falsify a hair drug test, thereby ensuring the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insight: These tests can demonstrate a pattern of drug usage over time, not just recent activity.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually incur higher costs than alternative testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth might impact metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests for many reasons in Sumner, GA. Superior detection is marked by the ability to uncover drug use over three months, unlike urine, which detects recent consumption. Hair tests offer more consistent reliability, reducing false negatives and providing peace of mind.

• Longer detection period than urine tests.
• More robust resistance to tampering.

Extended Detection Window

With hair follicle testing, Sumner, GA employers receive insights into a candidate’s drug use over a span of up to 90 days. This extended detection window allows for a more thorough review of an individual's substance history and is a game changer for workplace safety.

• Capture a broader history of substance use.
• Helps in assessing long-term sobriety and reliability.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Sumner, GA, hair follicle tests significantly decrease the risk of tampering. The tamperresistant nature fosters credibility, as any attempt to adulterate samples becomes pointless, guaranteeing results that stakeholders can trust fully.

• Adulteration of samples is nearly impossible.
• Stakeholders place trust in valid outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessing hair follicle testing is convenient with nationwide and local centers in Sumner, GA. This network ensures quick and smooth testing experiences, eliminating hassle and facilitating straightforward access to necessary services.

• Nationwide coverage ensures no location is out of reach.
• Local access means testing is as simple as possible.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering and completing a hair test in Sumner, GA is simple and confidential. From request to result, our structured process is designed to prioritize user privacy and ease, reassuring individuals of discretion throughout.

• Simplified ordering made possible.
• Maintains confidentiality during every step.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times characterize our hair tests in Sumner, GA. They offer excellent value and assurance for companies, ensuring that budgets are not overstretched while still meeting quick processing expectations.

• Competitive rates enhance value.
• Fast processes for swift assessment are guaranteed.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests are unmatched in Sumner, GA. High accuracy in identifying substance use ensures that results are both reliable and swift. This method allows for fast processing of samples, making it a preferred choice for those needing quick confirmation.

• No more waiting for weeks to get the results.
• Ensure accurate findings every time tests are conducted.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Sumner, GA, hair follicle testing supports adherence to a drugfree workplace, enhancing safety while reducing legal exposure. Compliance and peace of mind are ensured as businesses follow regulations smoothly, identifying drug use efficiently.

• Adopt drug-free policies seamlessly.
• Minimize legal risks associated with noncompliance.

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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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