Located in Los Osos, CA, Accredited Drug Testing offers extensive hair follicle drug analysis. If a hair or alcohol test is required, our expertise in hair testing ensures that our centers, present in every city across the country, can execute the test. Generally, hair from the head, requiring a length of 1.5 to 2 inches, or body hair can be utilized. Tests can include drugs, alcohol/ETG, or tailored options.
Recently, drug testing methods increasingly incorporate hair follicle testing. Employers, courts, and Substance Abuse professionals often favor hair over urine tests. Hair follicle drug tests are employed by zero-tolerance employers, judicial systems, and probationers. Key benefits include an extended detection period of up to 90 days, observation during collection, and a near-impossibility of tampering. Yet, for recent drug use within 5 days, urine remains the most precise.
* 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 increasingly recognized as a valuable method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair can reveal drug and alcohol history by capturing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can show drug and alcohol use for up to roughly 3 months. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat hard to tamper with, and convenient for transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. Using a jeweler's scale for measuring the sample is advised. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. Head hair indicates scalp hair specifically, while body hair covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The main stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into a lab's system. This phase ensures the sample’s seal and shipment are verified, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody process.
Screening provides a preliminary quick check for substances. Although Screening is cost-effective to rule out drug usage in many cases, a positive outcome must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening require further confirmation.
Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Extraction retrieves drugs from hair at a considerably lower concentration compared to other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screen result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample undergoes washing prior to confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand and not the follicles beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Los Osos, CA
Hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests in effectiveness and reliability. In Los Osos, the preference for hair testing increases due to its exceptional detection coverage and accuracy. Unlike urine tests, which offer a brief look at drug usage, hair tests provide an extensive timeline, revealing substance use over a prolonged period.
Reliability is a significant advantage of hair testing in comparison to urine methods. Hair analyses are not only thorough but much harder to falsify, providing assurance of truly honest outcomes. Los Osos embraces this superior testing method for assured, dependable drug assessments.
Employing hair testing guarantees comprehensive insight and superior accuracy, setting a new standard in drug use detection that urine tests fall short of matching.
Extended Detection Window in Los Osos, CA
The prolonged detection window of hair follicle testing spans up to 90 days, presenting a robust evaluation of an individual's drug history. This extended window is invaluable for employers in Los Osos, offering insights unavailable in traditional testing methods.
With its extensive analysis range, this method grants employers a broader understanding of an applicant or team member’s substance relationships. It effectively detects extended drug use patterns, providing a broader view of an individual’s engagement with substances.
Employers gain a strategic advantage in making informed hiring or retention decisions from a detailed profile of substance use over time.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Los Osos, CA
Hair follicle tests in Los Osos dramatically minimize the potential for sample manipulation, ensuring authenticity. The test’s tamper-resistant nature makes it an indispensable tool in reliable drug testing.
Designed to resist adulteration attempts common with other forms of testing, hair analysis guarantees that the collected sample remains unchanged throughout the examination process, enhancing the trustworthiness of its outcomes.
This robustness provides employers and individuals confidence in the results, reinforcing trust and minimizing any doubts regarding sample integrity.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Los Osos, CA
The extensive network of testing centers across the nation includes Los Osos, providing easy and convenient access. The proximity of these centers guarantees quick, hassle-free service.
Offering both local and nationwide centers, individuals and companies alike benefit from immediate and streamlined testing processes, reducing wait times and enhancing overall experience.
From coast to coast, Los Osos residents benefit from a geographically broad and accessible testing network that simplifies drug testing procedures.
Simple, Confidential Process in Los Osos, CA
In Los Osos, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and maintains high confidentiality, assuring clients of privacy at every stage. From booking to receiving results, participants experience a seamless procedure.
By maintaining simplicity and confidentiality, patrons can count on a discreet and easy method throughout the testing journey, positioning their needs and concerns as a top priority.
Ensuring privacy and ease makes hair testing a highly trustworthy choice for both agencies and individuals in Los Osos.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Los Osos, CA
Los Osos provides hair follicle tests at competitive prices, highlighting affordability without sacrificing quality. Fast turnaround times ensure that clients promptly receive their results.
Competitive pricing structures paired with swift processing times present excellent value, catering to the diverse budgets of companies of all scales within Los Osos.
Offering value for money, the testing service supports businesses in obtaining essential drug use data cost-effectively and efficiently.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Los Osos, CA
In Los Osos, rapid and precise results characterize hair follicle testing. This method delivers high accuracy in detecting drug use, ensuring that individuals or employers receive trustworthy information. Hair testing stands out for its swift processing and reliability, minimizing doubts associated with substance detection.
Exemplifying quick turnaround times and dependability, hair tests offer consistent results, enhancing decision-making. Accuracy is paramount, with tests eliminating uncertainties linked to drug presence.
By focusing on quick, corroborated outcomes, hair testing brings Los Osos into the forefront of effective drug detection practices. Ensuring rapid availability of results, it addresses urgent needs for drug-related insights.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Los Osos, CA
In Los Osos, hair follicle testing assures employers of adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This method significantly reduces legal risks while enhancing overall on-the-job safety, providing peace of mind.
Employers benefit from using hair testing as it aligns well with compliance regulations, safeguarding operations against illegal substance presence while ensuring a secure and compliant workforce.
Adopting this method ensures a commitment to safety and lawful standards, reflected in workplace safety and seamless operations throughout the organization.
