Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dows, IA

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

32 Hair Drug Testing Centers in Dows

Minutes Away, Test Today

1316 S Main St12.58 miles

1316 S Main St
Clarion, IA 50525

403 1st St Se14.21 miles

403 1st St Se
Belmond, IA 50421

920 S Oak St15.94 miles

920 S Oak St
Iowa Falls, IA 50126

303 Central Ave E16.20 miles

303 Central Ave E
Hampton, IA 50441

1720 Central Ave E17.10 miles

1720 Central Ave E
Hampton, IA 50441

115 S Park Ave20.37 miles

115 S Park Ave
Eagle Grove, IA 50533

914 Willson Ave21.06 miles

914 Willson Ave
Webster City, IA 50595

2350 Hospital Dr21.20 miles

2350 Hospital Dr
Webster City, IA 50595

800 Ohio St21.32 miles

800 Ohio St
Webster City, IA 50595

2411 Edington Ave29.63 miles

2411 Edington Ave
Eldora, IA 50627

730 W 3rd St31.32 miles

730 W 3rd St
Garner, IA 50438

532 1st St Nw34.23 miles

532 1st St Nw
Britt, IA 50423

1101 10th Ave N34.28 miles

1101 10th Ave N
Clear Lake, IA 50428

2520 9th Ave S35.51 miles

2520 9th Ave S
Fort Dodge, IA 50501

1315 6th St Sw36.68 miles

1315 6th St Sw
Mason City, IA 50401

1501 4th St Sw36.78 miles

1501 4th St Sw
Mason City, IA 50401

1000 4th St Sw36.91 miles

1000 4th St Sw
Mason City, IA 50401

1000 15th St N37.38 miles

1000 15th St N
Humboldt, IA 50548

423 4th St Sw Ste A Inside Mason City Chiropractic37.54 miles

423 4th St Sw Ste A Inside Mason City Chiropractic
Mason City, IA 50401

809 Wheeler St Ste 10442.10 miles

809 Wheeler St Ste 104
Ames, IA 50010

201 E J Ave42.89 miles

201 E J Ave
Grundy Center, IA 50638

635 E Us Highway 943.00 miles

635 E Us Highway 9
Forest City, IA 50436

1215 Duff Ave43.43 miles

1215 Duff Ave
Ames, IA 50010

1111 Duff Ave43.51 miles

1111 Duff Ave
Ames, IA 50010

1015 Duff Ave43.56 miles

1015 Duff Ave
Ames, IA 50010

630 6th St44.27 miles

630 6th St
Nevada, IA 50201

207 Stanton Ave44.54 miles

207 Stanton Ave
Ames, IA 50014

640 S 19th St45.19 miles

640 S 19th St
Nevada, IA 50201

1015 Union St45.76 miles

1015 Union St
Boone, IA 50036

1515 S Phillips St45.92 miles

1515 S Phillips St
Algona, IA 50511

1115 S Marshall St46.64 miles

1115 S Marshall St
Boone, IA 50036

1501 S Main St Ste 649.67 miles

1501 S Main St Ste 6
Charles City, IA 50616

Employment, Court Ordered, Probation, Family

Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug screening services in Dows, Iowa. Whether you require a hair drug or alcohol test, we have a national network of testing centers that can conduct hair tests. Typically, at least 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from your head or body is necessary. These tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, and other tailored testing options.

Recently, the preference for hair follicle drug testing has increased. This method is often requested by employers, legal systems, and Substance Abuse professionals instead of the common urine test. Hair drug tests are favored by organizations with zero-tolerance drug policies, courts, and for probation cases. Its key advantage is the extended detection window, reaching up to 90 days, obtained through closely monitored procedures, minimizing the chance of manipulation. However, for detecting drug use within the past few days, urine tests remain most effective.

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now perceived as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands store a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of approximately 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp can yield 100mg, the optimal sample size for testing and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and evaluations exceeding 10 panels, it's advisable to use 150mg of the sample. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. Note that when addressing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test consists of four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is first processed into the lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any outstanding data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-effective method for ruling out drug use in most samples, any positive screen needs confirmation for court admissibility. Presumptively positive samples in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at far lower concentrations than in other testing methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a more complex process.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

  • Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests with shorter detection periods.
  • Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is remarkably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
  • Chronological data: It offers a pattern of drug usage over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

  • Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
  • Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other testing methods.
  • Result variability: Hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Dows, IA

In comparing hair testing to the more traditional urine tests, the former stands out due to its superior forensic capability and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair testing provides a wider detection window and is far less susceptible to sample tampering. This makes hair testing an invaluable tool for employer confidence and policy compliance in Dows, IA.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Dows, IA

Hair follicle drug testing offers an extensive detection period that can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior. This capability empowers employers in Dows, IA, to acquire an insightful and comprehensive assessment of an individual’s substance use history, making it a critical component in hiring and monitoring processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Dows, IA

Employing a hair follicle test significantly decreases the likelihood of sample adulteration, presenting results that are both credible and tamper-proof. This enhancement in testing reliability aids in delivering unquestionable outcomes, further establishing trust in the process employed across Dows, IA.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Dows, IA

Our extensive network of testing centers ensures that individuals in Dows, IA have easy and rapid access to drug testing services. This widespread availability simplifies the testing process, making it convenient and hassle-free for everyone who relies on these essential services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Dows, IA

The ordering, conducting, and receiving phases of hair follicle testing are designed to be straightforward and private. Ensuring confidentiality and simplicity addresses privacy concerns and promotes ease of use, which is vital for all processing and handling in Dows, IA.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Dows, IA

We offer competitive pricing structures complemented by rapid turnaround times, guaranteeing excellent value for companies of every size in Dows, IA. This affordability, coupled with swift results, provides significant benefits and assurance to businesses seeking efficient screening processes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Dows, IA

Hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled in their ability to rapidly and precisely detect substance use. These tests offer a high degree of accuracy, making them a trusted resource in Dows, IA, for anyone requiring quick, dependable outcomes. The comprehensive nature of these tests ensures that recent and past substance use is consistently and reliably identified.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Dows, IA

Utilizing hair follicle testing aids employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal challenges, and fostering a culture of safety. This method not only ensures regulatory compliance but also provides peace of mind for employers in Dows, IA, given its ability to maintain an ethical working 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

Quick, knowledgeable and courteous

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

Greensboro Joseph - 11/19/2024

Very Fun and Easy

Trish last week and Tatiana this week, very fun and easy folks to deal with. Well be using them more and more in the future.

Tom O - 12/19/2024


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