In Thermalito, California, Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing. Specializing in such assessments, our centers are nationwide, ready to conduct hair tests. Hair on the crown measuring 1.5 to 2 inches—or elsewhere on the body—can be used. These tests can check for drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other tailored hair testing needs.
Recently, hair follicle drug testing has gained prominence in drug testing methods. Employers, courts, and substance abuse experts often favor it over traditional urine tests. This method is popular with zero-tolerance workplaces, legal systems, and probation monitoring, primarily due to its extended detection period, lasting up to 90 days, and the challenging nature of falsifying results. That said, for recent drug use within five days, urine tests remain the gold standard.
* 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 analysis has emerged as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug markers within the strands of the growing hair. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer approximately a 3-month detection timeframe for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment comprising about 200 hair strands (about the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or more than 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the hair. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in the lab handling of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's database. This involves checking that the sample was sealed and delivered securely, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any leftover data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical means to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples flagged as presumptively positive during Screening must undergo additional confirmation.
Should a sample be deemed presumptively positive in the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a significantly reduced concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening finding is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples flagged as presumptive positive are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review per both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In comparing hair follicle tests to traditional urine examinations, the superior detection capabilities of hair testing stand out. Hair tests in Thermalito, CA, capture a broader history of substance use, typically spanning up to 90 days, far exceeding the shorter detection window of urine tests, offering employers a more accurate tool to enforce drug-free policies.
Employers in Thermalito, CA benefit immensely from the extended detection window of hair follicle tests, detecting drug use over a long period of up to 90 days. This allows for an expanded review of an applicant or employee's substance usage history, ensuring more informed hiring and workforce management decisions.
The reliability of hair follicle testing in Thermalito, CA is unmatched when it comes to safeguarding against sample tampering. Such testing dramatically limits the risk of adulteration, providing trustworthy and undeniable results that employers and agencies can depend on.
Our testing locations in Thermalito, CA, along with our extensive network of nationwide centers, ensure convenient access to testing services. This wide coverage facilitates prompt and straightforward testing, simplifying the process for individuals and businesses alike, without the inconvenience of distant travel.
In Thermalito, CA, clients can take advantage of the straightforward and private process offered by hair follicle testing. From ordering the test to obtaining results, each step maintains confidentiality, addressing privacy concerns while ensuring ease of use for all parties involved.
In Thermalito, CA, our hair follicle testing provides not only swift results but also competitively priced offerings, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. With fast turnaround times, we deliver exceptional value, helping employers maintain efficient and effective drug-testing regimes.
Hair follicle drug tests in Thermalito, CA provide swift and precise results, demonstrating their significant effectiveness in detecting substance use. The thorough testing process ensures high accuracy, granting reliable insights to both employers and individuals. This efficiency supports their preference over other methods, offering clear evidence quickly.
Implementing hair follicle testing in Thermalito, CA empowers employers with compliance tools aligning with drug-free workplace policies. This approach mitigates legal risks while enhancing the overall safety and well-being of the work environment, offering peace of mind to both employers and employees.
