Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Walthourville, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair maintains a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the emerging hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to 3 months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively tough to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch piece containing about 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal specimen for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or any tests over 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is necessary. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not present, a corresponding amount of body hair can be harvested. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test consists of four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step in processing a sample into a lab's system. This step involves ensuring the sample was sealed and sent properly, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial swift test for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples testing presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing methodology.

Confirmation of positive results from the screening phase is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before Confirmation if needed. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is vetted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to falsify: Hair drug tests are difficult to falsify, resulting in more precise results.
• Offers historical information: It reveals a pattern of drug use over an extended period, rather than only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs require about 5-7 days before becoming detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier than other types of drug tests.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can modify the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite often being labeled as "hair follicle tests," the test actually analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Outshines Urine Testing in Walthourville, GA

• Hair testing provides an extensive detection span, far exceeding the limited window of urine tests, offering a more comprehensive substance use history.
• The accuracy and reliability of hair tests make them a superior choice, reducing the chances of false negatives and ensuring a drug-free workplace.

Substituting traditional urine tests with hair analysis can transform substance screening protocols, providing clearer and more reliable results.

Extended Detection Window

Prolonged Detection Window in Walthourville, GA

• Hair follicle testing is capable of identifying drug usage over a longer period, typically up to 90 days, offering a detailed record of an individual's substance history.
• This advanced capability is invaluable for employers seeking a thorough understanding of an employee's or applicant's past drug use.

With this extended detection capability, hair testing is a potent tool for maintaining drug-free environments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Tamper-Resistant Testing in Walthourville, GA

• Hair follicle tests significantly mitigate the risk of tampering, providing dependable and incontrovertible results, crucial for maintaining integrity in testing.
• The observed collection method further ensures the security of the test samples, removing opportunities for sample adulteration.

These characteristics make hair testing a reliable method for accurate substance detection.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Locations Nationwide and Locally in Walthourville, GA

• Our extensive network of testing centers across the nation ensures easy and accessible services with minimal hassle.
• Local availability in Walthourville adds convenience and speed to the process, simplifying logistics for individuals and businesses.

The widespread reach ensures seamless access to high-quality testing wherever you are.

Simple, Confidential Process

Effortless and Confidential Testing Process in Walthourville, GA

• The straightforward process of ordering, participating in tests, and receiving results ensures a private and user-friendly experience.
• Concerns about privacy and ease of use are directly addressed, making the process seamless for all individuals involved.

Anonymity and simplicity are key features, ensuring comfort throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing and Rapid Results in Walthourville, GA

• The cost-effective pricing paired with fast turnaround times offers excellent value, particularly beneficial to companies of varying sizes.
• By combining affordability with promptness, organizations benefit from both economic and effective testing services.

Secure peace of mind with cost-efficient testing that doesn't compromise quality or speed.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Swift and Dependable Outcomes in Walthourville, GA

• Hair follicle drug tests deliver fast and reliable results, reflecting the high standards of precision in detecting substance use.
• Employers benefit from timely outcomes, enabling quicker decision-making processes, ensuring the safety and compliance of their workforce.

The advanced technology utilized in hair follicle testing ensures a robust analysis, identifying substances with impressive accuracy and speed.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Assurance for Employers in Walthourville, GA

• Employers gain a level of compliance with drug-free workplace policies by opting for hair follicle testing, minimizing legal challenges and promoting safety.
• This peace of mind stems from the confident knowledge that the testing methods thoroughly assess for illicit substances.

Through comprehensive and reliable testing, employers uphold safety and compliance effectively.

Drug Testing Near Walthourville, GA

South Newport, GA

Warsaw, GA

Doctortown, GA

Fleming, GA

Midway, GA

Riceboro, GA

Ludowici, GA

Fort Stewart, GA

Flemington, GA

Gumbranch, GA

Hinesville, GA

Allenhurst, GA

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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