Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services in Irvine, California. Whether you require a drug or alcohol test using hair, Accredited Drug Testing is a leader in this field with facilities in every city across the nation capable of conducting hair testing. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the crown of the head or body are required for testing. Our tests can identify drugs, alcohol/ETG, or be tailored for other hair testing needs.
The trend towards using hair follicle drug tests for substance detection has been increasing in recent years. This test is now preferred by many employers, courts, and substance abuse experts over traditional urine tests. Hair follicle drug tests are especially favored by employers with strict no-drug-use regulations, judicial systems, and those on probation. The key advantage of this method is its ability to detect drug use over a longer period, typically up to 90 days, collected under supervision, making cheating almost impossible. However, the urine test remains the most precise for recent drug use detection within the last 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 has emerged as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers in the emerging hair strands. When taken close to the scalp, hair can offer up to roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat hard to falsify, and simple to ship.
A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (similar to the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. We suggest weighing the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we solely refer to scalp hair. Body hair covers all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps involved in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s framework. This process includes confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any remaining data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails an initial swift assessment for substance abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug usage in the majority of samples, a favorable screen requires confirmation to be accepted in legal proceedings. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.
If a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methods to perform.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not on the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests in Irvine, CA, due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. While traditional urine tests can identify recent drug use, hair tests offer a broader detection timeline, providing an extensive view of substance use history. Hair testing is less susceptible to tampering, ensuring that results are dependable and reflective of true usage patterns.
Hair follicle testing is known for its extended detection abilities, capturing drug use over a period of up to 90 days. This characteristic provides employers in Irvine, CA, with a thorough perspective of an individual's substance history, whether for pre-employment screening or ongoing employee evaluations. Such a wide-window view is crucial for assessing long-term drug habits.
The hair follicle testing method is inherently resistant to manipulation, making it a highly trustworthy option for drug screening in Irvine, CA. Unlike urine samples, which can sometimes be adulterated, hair samples are collected in a manner that minimizes the risk of tampering, providing results that stakeholders can trust without hesitation.
Convenience is a hallmark of our service, with nationwide and local testing centers in Irvine, CA, facilitating an easy and stress-free access to testing services. Our widespread network ensures that testing is always within reach, eliminating geographical constraints and providing clients with prompt service no matter their location.
The process of ordering and receiving hair follicle test results in Irvine, CA, is designed to be both straightforward and confidential. From start to finish, clients experience a seamless procedure, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring an unobtrusive yet effective method of substance detection testing.
Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times make our testing services in Irvine, CA, particularly appealing for businesses of all sizes. By providing cost-effective solutions that don't compromise quality, we offer exceptional value that aligns with budgetary expectations while delivering rapid and accurate drug testing results.
The efficiency of hair follicle drug tests lies in their ability to quickly deliver precise results. In Irvine, CA, this testing method stands out due to its high precision in identifying substance use, making it a reliable choice for those seeking accurate outcomes. With the capability to rapidly detect a wide range of substances, these tests are invaluable in ensuring compliance and safety across various sectors.
Employers in Irvine, CA, gain significant peace of mind by adopting hair follicle drug testing, ensuring that their workplaces remain compliant with drug-free policies. By mitigating legal risks and enhancing workplace security, this method also fosters a safer and more productive work environment, as it reliably enforces zero-tolerance standards.
