Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Unionville, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an essential method for detecting substance use, including drugs and alcohol. By embedding biomarkers within the strands, hair offers a historical record of these substances over a significant period. When hair is trimmed close to the scalp, it can reveal substance use information for up to roughly three months. This method is straightforward to perform, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

An optimal screening and confirmation sample consists of a 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil), providing 100mg of hair. For EtG, additional tests, or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. It is suggested to utilize a jeweler’s scale for precise measurement. If no scalp hair is accessible, the same quantity of body hair can suffice. When referencing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test analysis in the lab encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory’s framework. This phase verifies the sample’s secure sealing and shipping, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary assessment for substance misuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly method to identify drug usage in most samples, a positive result requires validation to be legally valid. Any samples indicated as positive during Screening necessitate further confirmation.

In cases where the Screening stage indicates a potential positive result, additional hair is sourced from the initial sample for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples suspected to be positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify substance use for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter detection span of urine tests.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historic usage data: It reflects drug use patterns over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Higher expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", these tests examine the hair shaft rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to urine testing in Unionville, GA, the advantages of hair testing become clear. Hair tests surpass urine tests with superior detection accuracy and reliability. The unbeatable detection window stretches back much further than urine tests, capturing a longer history of drug use.

Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle exams are less susceptible to evasion tactics, providing a secure and unquestionable assessment of substance use. This reliability makes hair testing an ideal choice for employers enforcing strict no-drug policies.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle test is invaluable for its extended detection window, reaching back up to 90 days of historical substance use. This period allows employers in Unionville, GA, an expansive view of an applicant or employee’s substance use history, offering insights unavailable with shorter-term urine tests.

By encompassing a longer timeframe, hair testing provides a comprehensive profile of an individual's lifestyle choices, making it a critical tool in maintaining safe, drug-free workplaces with informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The integrity of hair follicle testing in Unionville, GA, lies in its tamper-resistant nature. Attempting to adulterate samples is significantly more challenging than with urine tests, ensuring reliability in results that stand up to scrutiny.

Employers and legal authorities benefit from the clear-cut outcomes hair tests provide, reducing the risk of manipulated samples and fostering an environment of accountability and trust in drug testing processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide and local testing centers in Unionville, GA, accessing hair follicle testing services is hassle-free. Our extensive network ensures that tests are conducted promptly, without the inconvenience of traveling long distances.

Employers and individuals benefit from this wide-reaching availability, allowing easy access to accredited testing centers, streamlining the drug testing process to fit seamlessly into busy schedules.

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing in Unionville, GA, offers a simple and confidential process for conducting hair follicle tests. Our streamlined approach addresses privacy concerns and ensures convenience, from ordering the test to receiving the results.

Your confidentiality is prioritized at every step, guaranteeing that the entire process from start to finish is straightforward and secure, providing comfort to those seeking peace of mind in their testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround in Unionville, GA, our hair follicle testing services deliver excellent value for businesses of all sizes. Competitive pricing structures ensure that cost-effective testing doesn’t sacrifice quality or reliability.

The swift delivery of results within our prompt processing period ensures that businesses can continue to operate without delay, making informed decisions with confidence and efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Unionville, GA, the precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests are unmatched. These tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results, ensuring that substance use is detected promptly. Hair tests have a reputation for high accuracy, making them the preferred choice for many organizations looking to maintain a drug-free environment.

The rapid processing time of hair drug tests means that results are delivered swiftly without compromising accuracy. This efficiency provides peace of mind for employers and authorities requiring quick and trustworthy results to make informed decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in Unionville, GA, ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, delivering peace of mind for employers. This method reduces legal risks by maintaining stringent oversight over substance policies, aiding in risk management and legal protection.

The concrete results from hair tests support a culture of safety, trust, and adherence, promoting a proactive stance in maintaining a secure work environment for all employees.

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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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