In Cold Springs, California, Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services. Specializing in hair testing for drugs and alcohol, our facilities are available nationwide, ready to assist you. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the head or body suffice for an accurate assessment. Options to screen for drugs, alcohol/ETG, among others, are available.
Hair follicle drug testing has increasingly become a preferred method of drug screening. Many employers, judicial systems, and substance abuse experts now favor it over traditional urine testing. Preferred by zero-tolerance employers, courts, or probationary terms, its key advantage lies in a 90-day detection timeline, secured collection process, and resilience to manipulation. Nonetheless, urine testing remains ideal for detecting recent usage within 5 days.
* You must register by phone or online to receive your donor pass/registration prior to proceeding to the testing center. You must bring a valid government issued ID along with the registration/barcode number which was sent to you by email.
When you're searching for hair drug testing near me or hair drug testing locations, we provide a simple and convenient process to find a drug and alcohol testing location near you that is certified to provide all of your drug and alcohol testing needs.
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a historical record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as it grows. If sampled near the scalp, hair can present a detection period for alcohol and drugs that extends up to around three months. The process of collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and facilitates easy shipment.
To obtain the optimal screening and confirmation sample size, collect a 1.5-inch clip of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, providing 100mg of hair. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. It's recommended to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the hair. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it exclusively means scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (like facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug test results is divided into four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step in processing a sample in a laboratory's system, entailing the verification of correct sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial, quick assessment for substances of abuse. Although it’s an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screening requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Presumptively positive samples in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive outcome at the Screening stage, additional hair from the primary specimen undergoes preparation for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), contributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.
The Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The entire process is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing: In Cold Springs, CA, hair testing outshines traditional urine tests when it comes to detection accuracy and reliance. With up to 90 days of drug use traceability, it grants employers a comprehensive understanding that urine tests often can't match.
Extended Detection Window: Offering a broad visibility into a person's drug use history, hair follicle testing in Cold Springs, CA, can uncover substance use over a much more extensive period, up to 90 days. This range gives employers valuable, long-term insights into a candidate's substance habits—information that's crucial for making informed decisions.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method: Hair follicle testing notably minimizes the danger of sample tampering in Cold Springs, CA. Given the nature of the process, it is far more challenging to adulterate, resulting in highly reliable and unquestionable outcomes. This irrefutable reliability appeals to employers seeking confidence in testing accuracy.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations: Our vast network of testing centers, including local sites in Cold Springs, CA, makes getting tested incredibly convenient. You benefit from quick and seamless service, ensuring a hassle-free testing experience with comprehensive nationwide accessibility.
Simple, Confidential Process: Ordering and undergoing hair follicle testing in Cold Springs, CA, is straightforward and discreet. The procedure ensures confidentiality, addressing privacy concerns and guaranteeing ease of handling from start to finish, making it ideal for all your testing needs.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround: Competitive pricing structures coupled with rapid result processing distinguish our services in Cold Springs, CA. These advantages provide excellent value, catering to companies of various sizes by delivering quick and economical solutions.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results: In Cold Springs, CA, hair follicle tests stand out for their precision and speed. They offer a highly accurate method of detecting past substance use, assuring employers of clear and trustworthy outcomes. With a focused analysis process, results typically come quickly, fulfilling the need for rapid testing insights.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers: By employing hair follicle testing, Cold Springs, CA, companies can easily uphold drug-free policies, effectively lowering legal liabilities. Ensuring regulatory compliance fosters a safer, more secure working environment, providing peace of mind to both employers and employees.
