In Oakdale, Georgia, Accredited Drug Testing offers thorough hair follicle drug testing services. If you’re seeking a hair-based drug or alcohol test, Accredited Drug Testing has expertise in hair testing, with facilities in every city across the nation equipped to handle these tests. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of head or body hair is necessary. Hair analyses can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or accommodate other specialized testing needs.
Recently, there’s been a shift toward using hair follicle drug tests more frequently for drug screenings. Employers, legal systems, and substance abuse professionals are opting for these tests over traditional urine screenings. Employers enforcing zero-tolerance drug policies, courts, and probationary programs are now commonly using hair tests. The main advantage is their extended ability to detect drug use—reaching back 90 days, collected under supervision, and resistant to tampering. However, for detecting recent drug use within 5 days, urine tests still provide greater precision.
* 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.
Detecting drug and alcohol consumption has found strong footing through hair testing. This method offers a comprehensive record of alcohol and other drug intake, capturing biomarkers within the hair's growing fibers. When collected near the scalp, hair provides a detection timeline of up to three months. The collection is straightforward, with hair being challenging to tamper with and convenient to transport.
An optimal sample consists of a 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately matching the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yielding about 100mg, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding ten, 150mg is preferably required. It’s advised to weigh samples using a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, equivalent body hair may be used. References to head hair mean scalp hair exclusively, while body hair encompasses other types, such as facial or axillary hair.
Process Overview
The essential steps for laboratory processing of drug tests include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory’s system. This phase ensures that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic custody chain system.
Screening provides an initial broad check for substance abuse. Although Screening efficiently eliminates drug usage for most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation to be valid legally. Presumptive positives from Screening mandate further confirmation.
In the event of a presumptive positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is prepared from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from the hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening presents more complexity.
Positive results from Screening are confirmed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, any presumptive positive samples undergo a washing process if required. The full laboratory journey from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and aligns with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing is superior to urine testing in Oakdale, GA, with its improved detection capability and reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair tests provide a comprehensive substance use history, minimizing false negatives and enhancing accuracy for employers and agencies seeking dependable results.
In Oakdale, GA, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection period of up to 90 days for past drug use. This long window allows employers and authorities to gain a complete perspective on an individual’s substance use, proving invaluable for informed decision-making regarding employee and applicant evaluations.
Hair follicle tests offer robust tamper resistance in Oakdale, GA. These tests significantly decrease the chance of sample tampering or adulteration, ensuring results remain highly reliable and beyond reproach, thereby reinforcing trust and integrity in drug testing practices.
Our conveniently located testing centers throughout Oakdale, GA, and nationwide offer easy access to drug testing services. This expansive reach guarantees that you can access hassle-free testing promptly, regardless of your location, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum efficiency.
In Oakdale, GA, hair follicle testing features a straightforward and confidential process. From ordering the test to receiving results, the procedure is designed to be user-friendly and secure, addressing privacy concerns while simplifying the whole experience.
Affordable rates and swift result times in Oakdale, GA, characterize our hair follicle testing, providing outstanding value to businesses. Competitive pricing coupled with fast reporting ensures companies can rely on financially viable solutions without sacrificing quality and reliability.
In Oakdale, GA, hair follicle tests deliver fast and accurate results. The precision of these tests is unmatched in tracing substance use. When time is of the essence, and exactness is required, this method outperforms others in efficiency and dependability, ensuring trustworthy results promptly.
In Oakdale, GA, implementing hair follicle testing helps companies maintain drug-free workplaces. By aligning with this method, employers ensure adherence to policies, lowering legal exposures, and contributing to a safer, more secure work environment.