In Penfield, Georgia, Accredited Drug Testing provides full hair follicle drug testing services. If you need testing for drugs or alcohol via hair samples, Accredited Drug Testing is adept at performing hair tests and maintains facilities in cities across the nation able to administer these tests. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair on the scalp or body can be analyzed for substances, alcohol, or other specialized testing options.
Hair follicle drug testing has increasingly been favored in recent years over other methods. Many employers, judicial systems, and substance abuse professionals demand hair tests instead of conventional urine tests. The key advantage of hair follicle tests includes their extended detection period, allowing for drug use detection up to 90 days, requiring direct collection under observation, and offering resistance to tampering. Yet, urine tests maintain their accuracy 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 recognized as an effective method for detecting substance use. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and other drug usage for roughly a 3-month period. Hair is straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 hair strands similar in size to a #2 pencil, and collected nearest to the scalp, will produce 100mg of hair—the ideal amount for testing and validation. When testing for EtG, add-ons, or more than 10-panel tests, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for measuring the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, an equal volume of body hair may be used. References to head hair imply scalp hair only, while body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary stages in processing a drug test result in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This step ensures that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data input not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial rapid evaluation for substances of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient in ruling out drug use for most samples, a confirmed positive screen is required for legal acceptance. Any samples that test positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.
If a sample indicates positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. During this process, substances are extracted from hair in much lower concentrations compared to other testing methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most complex method to conduct.
Confirmation of positive screening results employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All positively screened samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the examination actually analyzes the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine tests in Penfield, GA reveals significant advantages. Hair testing boasts superior detection for drugs due to its ability to analyze substances embedded in the hair shaft, offering a more comprehensive overview. Unlike the limitations of urine screening, hair tests are less influenced by temporary abstinence, ensuring more reliable and truthful results over time.
In Penfield, GA, one of the most remarkable features of hair follicle drug testing is its extended detection window. With the ability to uncover drug use spanning up to 90 days, it provides employers with a thorough understanding of a person’s substance use history, contrasting sharply with shorter detection spans of urine tests that only capture recent use.
In Penfield, GA, hair follicle testing presents a tamper-resistant method that minimizes the chance of sample adulteration. Hair tests extract samples under direct observation, virtually eliminating opportunities for substitution or contamination, and thus supply results that employers and authorities can place their trust in.
In Penfield, GA, and throughout the nation, our network of testing centers ensures convenience and accessibility. With nationwide availability, individuals and businesses can easily locate a nearby testing facility, ensuring the process of scheduling and undergoing a test is as seamless and efficient as possible.
The hair follicle testing procedure in Penfield, GA is straightforward and confidential. From ordering a test to taking it and receiving results, the process is designed with privacy in mind, addressing any concerns over confidentiality and ensuring simplicity at every stage while maintaining highly secure handling of sensitive information.
Penfield, GA offers affordable pricing and rapid turnaround for hair follicle testing. Our competitive pricing structures are accessible to businesses of varying sizes, providing excellent value alongside swift result delivery, enabling organizations to make timely and informed decisions with peace of mind.
In Penfield, GA, hair follicle drug testing is known for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method's precision in detecting substance use comes from analyzing hair strands, where traces of drugs or alcohol are securely stored. The results provide a clear view of an individual's drug history, which is not as transient as fluid-based methods, offering profound accuracy and dependability in results.
For employers in Penfield, GA, utilizing hair follicle tests guarantees adherence to drug-free policies, fostering a compliant workplace. This proactive measure minimizes legal liabilities while bolstering overall safety, offering workers and management alike the serenity that the work environment remains drug-free.