Hair Follicle Drug Testing - North Coastal, CA

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

9 Hair Drug Testing Centers in North Coastal

Minutes Away, Test Today

1585 Heartwood Drive Ste B5.42 miles

1585 Heartwood Drive Ste B
Mckinleyville, CA 95519

1225 Central Ave Ste 26.04 miles

1225 Central Ave Ste 2
Mckinleyville, CA 95519

592 14th St8.75 miles

592 14th St
Arcata, CA 95521

4038 Brookwood Dr10.94 miles

4038 Brookwood Dr
Bayside, CA 95524

1915 Harrison Ave Ste A15.14 miles

1915 Harrison Ave Ste A
Eureka, CA 95501

2460 Buhne Street,15.43 miles

2460 Buhne Street,
Eureka, CA 95501

3116 Harrison Ave15.78 miles

3116 Harrison Ave
Eureka, CA 95503

850 N Highway 9620.20 miles

850 N Highway 96
Willow Creek, CA 95573

3302 Renner Dr28.77 miles

3302 Renner Dr
Fortuna, CA 95540

Employment, Court Ordered, Probation, Family

Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services in the North Coastal region of California. If you're in need of a hair-based drug or alcohol test, Accredited Drug Testing is a specialist in hair analysis, with testing facilities available in cities across the nation that can administer hair-based tests. It generally requires 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the skull or an alternative body area can be used. Hair tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or allow for other personalized hair testing solutions.

Drug testing methods have increasingly incorporated hair follicle tests recently. A growing number of employers, courts, and substance abuse experts now request hair testing instead of the conventional urine test. Hair follicle tests serve employers with strict no-drug-use policies, the legal system, and individuals on probation. A notable advantage of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window for drug consumption, spanning up to 90 days. Tests are conducted under observation, making it highly tamper-proof. Nonetheless, urine tests remain the most accurate for detecting drug activity within the last five days.

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments have become recognized as an effective method for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer an extended timeline of alcohol and drug absorption by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft. When clipped close to the scalp, hair can reveal up to a nearly 90-day detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is uncomplicated, comparatively hard to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.

A lock of 200 individual strands, around 1.5 inches in length (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, deemed the optimal amount for evaluations and confirmations. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the substance is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair is not accessible, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair. Conversely, "body hair" pertains to all other types (beard, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test result laboratory workflow consists of four pivotal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a sample within a laboratory’s database. This step ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes additional data entry that may not be covered by an electronic custody tracking system.

Screening involves an initial swift appraisal for substance abuse. Although Screening serves as a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug usage for most samples, court-admissible results require confirmation following a positive screen. Samples indicating presumptive positives during Screening demand secondary confirmation.

Upon a Screening stage presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at substantially lower concentrations than other test methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), presenting a greater challenge in conducting hair drug screenings.

Confirmation of any screening result yielding positive is accomplished via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive specimens undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

  • Extended detection period: Hair drug analyses can reveal drug usage lasting up to 90 days, unlike urine analyses which offer a shorter detection period.
  • Difficulty to deceive: Tampering with a hair drug test poses a significant challenge, enhancing result accuracy.
  • Offers usage patterns: The method can outline a timeline of drug consumption over an extended period, rather than merely recent use.

Limitations:

  • Limited early detection: Detection of drugs within hair typically requires 5-7 days post-consumption.
  • Expense: Hair drug screening tends to be pricier compared to alternative drug testing methods.
  • Result variability: Factors like hair pigmentation and personal hair growth rates can influence the level of drug byproducts in the hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests," the analysis examines the hair shaft rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in North Coastal, CA
Among the superior benefits of hair testing over traditional urine tests is its ability to detect drugs with higher precision and consistency. Hair tests provide a longer detection timeline and more reliable results, which is crucial for employers aiming for a safe and compliant work environment in North Coastal, offering a more comprehensive solution compared to urine analysis.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in North Coastal, CA
Hair follicle testing provides an extended window of detection, stretching up to 90 days, which grants employers a thorough understanding of an individual’s substance use history. This expanded timeframe is invaluable for employers in North Coastal, CA, seeking substantial insight into the behavior of applicants or current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in North Coastal, CA
The hair follicle testing method significantly minimizes the risk of sample tampering. By offering a test that's nearly impervious to adulteration, North Coastal, CA, organizations receive outcomes they can trust. The integrity of hair samples ensures that the results are unquestionable, bolstering confidence in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in North Coastal, CA
Our network of testing centers across the nation guarantees convenience and accessibility. Residents of North Coastal, CA, enjoy prompt and effortless access to hair follicle testing, ensuring a swift, straightforward, and uncomplicated experience for all involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in North Coastal, CA
The hair follicle testing process is straightforward and respects client confidentiality. In North Coastal, CA, the procedure for ordering, conducting, and obtaining results is designed to be user-friendly and privacy-focused, addressing all concerns about the ease and discretion of the testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in North Coastal, CA
Competitive pricing schemes and rapid result delivery make hair follicle testing in North Coastal, CA, an excellent option for businesses. These factors combine to offer exceptional value and security for companies seeking cost-effective and timely drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in North Coastal, CA
Hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision in determining substance use. Known for their high accuracy, these tests provide swift and dependable outcomes. Utilized in the North Coastal area of California, they ensure quick insight into drug consumption, reinforcing their reputation for reliability among professionals seeking fast and trustworthy results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in North Coastal, CA
Implementing hair follicle testing not only assures compliance with drug-free workplace policies but also minimizes legal liabilities. Employers in North Coastal, CA benefit from the peace of mind that comes with enhanced workplace safety and legal alignment, ensuring a secure and healthy work environment.

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.


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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

Sweet and helpful

Trish was amazing and got me through the sytem very fast and swift. I had a hard time hearing her a couple of times, but she was super sweet and helpful throughout the process. Highly recommend her!

Sophia Schutze - 6/19/2024

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Quick, knowledgeable and courteous Janelle worked diligently to support me. I am recommending their services to anyone looking.

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