Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services in Redwood City, California. If a hair drug or alcohol test is needed, our expertise in hair testing is unmatched, and our service locations spread across all U.S. cities to provide such tests. Generally, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair is required from the crown or another body part. Hair tests can explore drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other tailored testing options.
Lately, drug testing methods have increasingly incorporated hair follicle tests. Employers, judicial systems, and Substance Abuse experts favor this method over standard urine tests. Employers with zero-tolerance policies, courts, and probationary programs utilize hair follicle tests for their longer detection window of up to 90 days and observation-based collection process, minimizing cheating. Nevertheless, urine tests remain the most accurate for recent drug use within the last five 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 increasingly regarded as a powerful diagnostic method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand in growth, hair offers a prolonged history of drugs and alcohol. When clipped close to the scalp, it can offer a detection window of up to around three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil), taken closest to the scalp will provide 100mg, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For extended tests above 10 panels, EtG, or add-ons, a 150mg sample is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is recommended. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be used. When head hair is mentioned, it refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial hair, axillary hair, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four crucial stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning incorporates the initial sample processing into a lab's system. This process includes validating that the sample is sealed and transported appropriately, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as an efficient means to rule out drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, further hair from the initial sample is extracted and prepared for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine, oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening presents more challenges.
Confirmation of any positive screening results is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating presumptive positivity undergo washing prior to confirmation, as needed. The entire laboratory protocol from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual test analyzes the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Surpasses Urine Testing in Redwood City, CA
Hair follicle tests offer substantial advantages over urine tests, like heightened detection capabilities. They provide a superior analysis, identifying substances even long after use has occurred, unlike their more conventional counterparts.
Redwood City's shift toward hair tests reflects a broader recognition of their reliability. With hair follicle testing, false negatives are less likely, providing accurate insights into an individual's drug use history without relying on same-day detection.
Prolonged Detection Range in Redwood City, CA
The capability of hair follicle tests to track drug use over a span of up to 90 days greatly benefits employers. Unlike short-term urine tests, hair tests reveal a person’s prolonged drug usage pattern, enabling informed decisions about employment and workplace safety.
Employers in Redwood City gain a more thorough overview of an individual's substance history, reinforcing their commitment to maintaining an engaging and secure working environment by understanding long-term habits.
Impenetrable Testing Technique in Redwood City, CA
By substantially curbing the potential for sample adulteration, hair follicle tests ensure the delivery of results that can withstand scrutiny. These tests are renowned for their integrity, leaving minimal room for tampering attempts.
Redwood City establishments consider these tests as a dependable tool for ensuring transparency.When integrity and accuracy are vital, hair follicle testing stands as the gold standard, offering results that you can rely on.
Accessible Nationwide and Local Testing Facilities in Redwood City, CA
Our testing centers are conveniently situated throughout the nation, offering seamless access to services for businesses and individuals alike. Locally, our Redwood City location ensures the community can easily access prompt and efficient testing services.
This network of centers makes the drug testing process hassle-free, contributing to a straightforward experience when verifying an individual’s compliance or screening candidates.
Effortless and Confidential in Redwood City, CA
Simplicity and confidentiality are at the forefront of our drug testing process in Redwood City. From ordering to receiving results, every stage is designed to preserve privacy and ease, addressing potential concerns about personal information handling.
Users are assured of a streamlined experience, trusting that their data remains confidential while receiving precise results in a timely manner.
Cost-Effective and Swift in Redwood City, CA
Our pricing models offer competitive rates, ensuring access to comprehensive drug testing without overextending budgets. The swift turnaround in results ensures that businesses in Redwood City are not left waiting, securing timely information needed to make pivotal decisions.
These factors blend to provide incomparable value, making our services a strategic choice for businesses of all scales, further driving safety and compliance within the workplace.
Rapid, Precise, and Dependable Outcomes in Redwood City, CA
The efficiency and precision of hair follicle drug testing are unmatched. Not only do these tests accurately detect substance use, but they also deliver faster results than traditional methods, ensuring reliability while meeting the needs of modern workplaces.
The high level of accuracy offered by hair follicle tests delivers peace of mind. Redwood City employers can trust these tests to unveil whether employees have engaged in substance use, minimizing discrepancies and false negatives.
Adhering to Standards Brings Assurance to Employers in Redwood City, CA
Employers in Redwood City who adopt hair follicle testing contribute to a safer workplace. This method aligns with drug-free workplace policies, thus diminishing legal risks and enhancing overall safety.
Using hair follicle testing allows companies to enforce zero-tolerance policies effectively. The NA annual report showcases positive results in lowered incidents when this testing method is implemented, providing peace of mind.