Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Westside, GA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft, with samples taken near the scalp providing up to a three-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easily shipped.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising about 200 strands near the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal quantity for screening and validation. For EtG enhancements or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It is suggested to ascertain the specimen's weight using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. The term "head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other hair types, such as facial and axillary.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome involves four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning constitutes the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s system. This encompasses confirming proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid examination for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, a positive result necessitates verification to be accepted in court. All samples that are initially positive in Screening demand a subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction process. At this stage, drugs are drawn from hair at a concentration notably lower than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), thereby making hair drug screening one of the most complex methodologies to execute.

The Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair accreditation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have shorter detection timelines.
• Low possibility of manipulation: Cheating a hair drug test is exceptionally difficult, ensuring greater accuracy of results.
• Gives historical insights: It details a sequence of drug usage over time, not limited to recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lack of recent detection: Drugs typically become detectable in hair after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually carry a higher price tag compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test itself assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair testing in Westside, GA offers superior benefits when compared to traditional urine tests, notably in its ability to cover a wider detection window. Its accuracy and reliability in identifying drug use surpasses urine screening, providing a more thorough analysis which is invaluable for decision-makers needing comprehensive insights.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle drug tests present an expanded detection window, capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior. This allows businesses in Westside, GA to capture a broader picture of an individual's substance history, providing essential insights for evaluating honesty and conduct over an extended timeframe.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Choosing hair follicle testing in Westside, GA helps diminish sample tampering issues. This testing method’s design minimizes risks associated with sample adulteration, producing reliable and authoritative results, and solidifying itself as a trusted technique for substance abuse screening.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing eases accessibility by providing plenty of testing sites across the nation, including Westside, GA. This network guarantees a seamless, quick, and fuss-free testing experience, as options are available locally and nationally for easy results.

Simple, Confidential Process

With a straightforward and discreet procedure, Accredited Drug Testing in Westside, GA offers easy test ordering, collection, and result retrieval. This simplicity ensures privacy and ease of use, addressing client confidentiality and convenience effectively and efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing provides cost-effective solutions and rapid result turnaround in Westside, GA. This ensures a superior value proposition for businesses regardless of size, balancing affordability with swift, reliable outcomes to uphold decision-making confidence.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Renowned for its precision, hair follicle testing in Westside, GA ensures swift and exact results, uncovering substance use with the utmost accuracy. This reliable method provides peace of mind by quickly revealing an individual’s drug history, ensuring timely decision-making for all concerned parties.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Offering hair follicle tests in Westside, GA, employers can rest easy, knowing they comply with workplace drug-free policies. This reduces potential legal troubles and bolsters workplace safety, ensuring a professional and secure environment for all employees and stakeholders.

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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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