Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kelso, CA

Employment, DOT, Court Ordered, Personal
Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG

0 Hair Drug Testing Centers in Kelso

Minutes Away, Test Today

Employment, Court Ordered, Probation, Family

Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug tests in Kelso, California. Offering specialized hair and alcohol testing, our centers are present across all major cities in the USA. Adequate hair length required is 1.5 to 2 inches from your head or body hair. These tests are designed to detect drugs or alcohol/ETG along with other customized testing solutions.

Hair follicle drug testing has become a more prevalent method for drug testing. Many employers, courts, and substance abuse experts now prefer hair drug tests over traditional urine tests. People under probation, and zero-tolerance workplaces, often rely on these tests. The most significant advantage is its extensive detection period, approximately 90 days, under supervised collection making it very challenging to falsify. However, urine tests remain precise for detecting recent drug use within five days.

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is perceived as an effective strategy for identifying alcohol and drug usage. The hair captures a prolonged record of such substances by holding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When gathered near the scalp, hair offers nearly a 90-day detection period for alcohol and other substances. This method is easy to gather, hard to falsify, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches containing roughly 200 hair strands (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advised. It's preferable to weigh the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair is an alternative. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Summary

Four key stages in the laboratory processing of drug test outcomes include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with the sample's initial processing into a lab's system. It involves verifying correctly sealed and shipped samples, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry that an electronic chain of custody system might miss.

Screening constitutes an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is economical to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptively positive samples in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

For samples indicated as positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are removed from hair in much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Any positive results from Screening are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, presumptive positive samples are cleaned as needed. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, falls under the review of CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

  • Extended detection period: Hair drug tests detect drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection timeframe.
  • Hard to falsify: The accuracy of hair drug tests is bolstered by their resistance to manipulation.
  • Offers historical insight: Hair drug tests reveal patterns of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Challenges:

  • Incapable of identifying recent use: Drugs typically become traceable in hair after around 5-7 days.
  • Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are pricier compared to other methods.
  • Result discrepancies: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence how drug metabolites are represented in hair.

Note: Often dubbed "hair follicle tests," the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Kelso, CA, hair follicle testing offers superior benefits over traditional urine tests. Its detection window far exceeds those of urine tests, allowing for a broader overview of past drug use. Hair tests yield more reliable results due to their resistance to tampering and the longer detection period. Employers and legal entities find hair tests indispensable for assessing applicants or suspects' long-term substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

In Kelso, CA, the hair follicle test's long detection span of up to 90 days is unparalleled. This extended window allows employers to deeply evaluate candidates or current employees' substance history. Such comprehensive data aids in making informed hiring or managerial decisions, ensuring a safer and more responsible work environment. This extended analysis capability is a strong point for businesses focusing on long-term employee integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Kelso, CA, hair follicle testing is a robust, tamper-resistant method, greatly minimizing the chances of sample adulteration. Since hair specimens can resist external contamination more effectively than urine, they offer genuine and credible results. This reduces the risk of fraudulent test outcomes, ensuring trustworthy data that stakeholders can rely on for dependable decision-making.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides a wide network of convenient testing centers throughout Kelso, CA, and across the nation. These strategically placed locations ensure that those in need of testing services find them accessible and hassle-free. The process is designed to be streamlined, allowing for easy and swift access to necessary testing facilities, which are pivotal in maintaining compliance and safety.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Kelso, CA, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential, ensuring that all procedures, from ordering to receiving results, respect privacy. This commitment to confidentiality alleviates concerns about disclosure and privacy, making the process stress-free. Accredited Drug Testing's approach guarantees that individuals can trust their personal information is handled with utmost care and discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Kelso, CA, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing. This commitment to affordability ensures that businesses of all sizes receive excellent value without compromising on quality. With quick results, companies can continue operations smoothly, knowing that they have a cost-effective solution that aligns with their budgetary needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Kelso, CA, hair follicle testing provides prompt and precise results, ensuring the highest accuracy in substance detection. These tests offer quick turnover times, instilling confidence in users about their outcomes. With advanced technology, hair testing identifies drug metabolites effectively, making it a preferred method for reliable analysis, whether for personal, employment, or legal purposes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Kelso, CA supports employer compliance with drug-free workplace policies. Such measures help mitigate legal risks and promote a secure and productive work setting. By adhering to stringent testing standards, companies can reinforce their commitment to safety, ensuring both peace of mind and adherence to policy requirements. It underscores the company's dedication to health and safety for all employees.

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.


Kelso Drug Testing

Quickly find trusted local drug testing centers in Kelso, CA — fast, convenient, and reliable every time!

Kelso DOT Drug Testing

Quickly find a local DOT drug testing center in Kelso, CA — fast, reliable, convenient nationwide service!

Kelso DNA Testing

DNA testing for legal and non-legal purposes including child support, and child custody around Kelso, CA.

Kelso Industry Training

Including specimen collector training, DER training, reasonable suspicion training and much more in Kelso, CA.v

Kelso Hair Drug Testing

Get fast, accurate hair drug testing at our convenient Kelso, CA locations—results you can trust, every time!

Kelso Alcohol Testing

Fast, reliable alcohol testing to keep your workplace safe and compliant every single day in Kelso, CA.

Kelso Drug Testing Services

Reliable nationwide drug testing services ensuring accuracy, compliance, and quick results for businesses and individuals in Kelso, CA.

Kelso 5 Panel Drug Test

Accurate 5 panel drug testing with fast, confidential results—trusted by Kelso, CA employers and individuals nationwide.

Kelso 10 Panel Drug Test

Comprehensive 10 panel drug testing with fast, reliable results—trusted for Kelso, CA workplace and personal testing needs.

Kelso On Site Drug Testing

Convenient on-site mobile drug testing with fast, reliable results—saving time while keeping your Kelso, CA workplace compliant.

Kelso DOT Physicals

Certified DOT physicals with quick, reliable exams to keep Kelso, CA drivers compliant and on the road with confidence.

DOT Consortium

Join our DOT consortium for hassle-free compliance, random testing management, and reliable driver safety solutions.


Frequently Asked Questions

A hair follicle drug test analyzes a small sample of hair to detect a history of drug use over time. Because drug metabolites are incorporated into hair as it grows, this method can show patterns of use instead of just recent exposure. It is frequently used for legal and court requirements, long-term monitoring, and high-trust workforce screening.
Standard hair drug testing typically reflects drug use over approximately a 90-day period, based on the length of hair collected at the time of testing. Longer hair can sometimes reflect a longer time frame, and extremely short hair can reduce that window.
Hair drug testing commonly screens for marijuana/THC, cocaine, opiates/opioids, amphetamines/methamphetamines, and PCP. In many cases, additional expanded panels may be requested to include other substances.
Yes. If the donor's head hair is too short or unavailable, body hair may be collected as an alternative. The collector will document the source of the sample. This allows testing even for individuals with recently cut or shaved head hair.
Yes. Hair drug testing is commonly used in court, probation, custody, and compliance matters because the collection process follows a documented chain of custody and the analysis is performed by a certified laboratory. Results are provided in a form that can be reviewed by legal and administrative authorities.
Yes. Individuals, parents, attorneys, employers, and probation programs can all request hair drug testing. A doctor's order is not required. Results are confidential and released only to the authorized requesting party.
Hair testing provides a longer look-back period than urine testing, making it useful when you need to demonstrate ongoing abstinence or identify repeated/recent substance use patterns over time rather than just recent exposure. It is frequently selected for legal, compliance, and custody-related documentation.
A small section of hair is cut by a trained collector in a discreet, controlled manner. The sample is sealed, documented, and sent to the laboratory under established chain-of-custody procedures so that the results can be defended if they are ever challenged.

Customer Reviews

Thank You!!

I needed a quick drug test for visitation with my children. I called at 6am they answered and set me up with a place a couple miles from my house to go get the test done, that was on Wednesday, I had the results on Friday afternoon and was able to see my kids on Saturday. Thank you for the help!

Mark Broadhead - 2/12/2025

Very Fun and Easy

Trish last week and Tatiana this week, very fun and easy folks to deal with. Well be using them more and more in the future.

Tom O - 12/19/2024

Very professional and very quick

Very professional and very quick service to schedule appointments! I am pleased with the services and would definitely recommend using them for any drug testing needs!

Carrie Feerick - 4/19/2025


(800) 221-4291