public static function isValid($gid)
	{
		if(preg_match("/^[A-Z0-9]+$/", $gid))
		{
			// approx 85% of GIDs are 50 chars long, 14% 49, and 1% 48.
			// On very rare occasions, a length of 47 is possible.
			if(strlen($gid) <= 50 && strlen($gid) >= 47)
			{
				return true;
			}
		}
		
		return false;
	}