In Urbandale, Iowa, Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug tests. For those needing a hair drug or alcohol test, we specialize in hair analysis, and our centers span all cities nationwide. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair, whether from the head or body, is needed. Hair testing can be customized for drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other options based on requirements.
The use of hair follicle drug tests has increased recently as an alternative to standard urine tests. Many workplaces, legal systems, and addiction experts prefer hair tests. They are favored by organizations with strict drug policies, legal courts, and by individuals under legal supervision. The key advantage is their longer detection period for drug use, often up to 90 days, combined with a supervised collection method, making them hard to tamper with. However, urine tests remain more accurate for recent usage within 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 analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. It captures a long-term history of substances through the entrapment of biomarkers within the growing hair fibers. Hair samples, taken near the scalp, can offer a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward; it's challenging to tamper with and easy to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg, the perfect quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (like facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processes a drug test result in four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial processing of a sample into a laboratory's system, ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial swift assessment to check for drugs of abuse. Though cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in legal proceedings. Samples that preliminarily indicate positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If Screening indicates a potential positive, additional hair from the original sample is used for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug tests one of the most challenging methodologies.
Confirmation of any positive screen result is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples preliminarily positive undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the test actually analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.
In Urbandale, IA, hair follicle testing outmatches urine testing due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Effective and comprehensive, it offers the advantage of tracking drug use over a more extended period, providing a detailed overview of an individual's substance history. Hair tests surpass urine tests in identifying drugs used weeks or even months prior.
Employers and legal authorities favor hair follicle tests for their enhanced dependability, reducing the chance of erroneous results. Unlike urine tests, they cover a more extensive timeframe, ensuring a clearer picture of an individual's exposure to substances, making it an optimal choice in ensuring drug-free environments.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Urbandale, IA, captures a substance history spanning up to 90 days. This comprehensive timeline is crucial for employers and organizations to review an individual's drug use, offering insights beyond the capture of more recent testing methods.
With this prolonged window, hair testing provides detailed information on long-term drug habits. This ensures that employers gain a thorough understanding of an applicant or employee's substance history, promoting a healthier and drug-free workplace environment.
Hair follicle testing in Urbandale, IA, significantly lowers the risk of sample tampering, offering reliable and unquestionable testing methods. Due to the difficult tamper-proof nature of hair samples, this method provides confidence in the accuracy and integrity of drug test results.
The robust tamper-resistance of hair tests eliminates the vulnerabilities seen in other testing methods, ensuring that the results obtained reflect true drug use. This reliability is essential for maintaining trust and enforcing drug-free policies efficiently and effectively.
Convenience is at the core of our nationwide and local Urbandale, IA testing locations. Our network of centers ensures quick and hassle-free access to hair follicle testing services for individuals and organizations alike, supporting their requirements efficiently, with an emphasis on accessibility.
With strategically located centers, we provide easy access to testing services that are essential for maintaining safety and addressing substance concerns promptly. This nationwide convenience fosters a supportive and readily available testing infrastructure.
The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Urbandale, IA is simple and confidential. Designed to be user-friendly, this method protects the privacy of all parties involved, ensuring ease of use and the confidentiality of personal information.
From initiation to completion, our services are structured to prioritize discretion and simplicity, offering a streamlined experience that addresses privacy concerns and ensures a straightforward pathway to obtaining accurate test results.
Our hair follicle testing services in Urbandale, IA offer affordable pricing with rapid turnaround times, providing great value for companies of all sizes. Competitive pricing structures make it accessible for businesses looking to enforce drug-free policies effectively without a significant financial burden.
The cost-effectiveness combined with quick processing ensures that organizations can achieve regulatory compliance and maintain safety. With fast results and competitive prices, our services offer excellent value and assure peace of mind for employers.
In Urbandale, IA, hair follicle drug testing provides fast and accurate insights into drug usage. Speedy and precise, it helps identify substances effectively, ensuring accurate results that meet the needs of employers and individuals. This method enhances the efficiency of substance detection, offering a reliable alternative to traditional tests.
The precision of hair follicle testing lies in its ability to detect a wide range of substances, thereby ensuring comprehensive drug use analysis. This high level of accuracy makes it an ideal choice for various situations, from workplace testing to legal requirements, offering peace of mind with its reliable detection capabilities.
Peace of mind comes from compliance with drug-free workplace policies in Urbandale, IA, through hair follicle testing. Employers appreciate its effectiveness in ensuring safety and maintaining legal standards, potentially reducing legal risks associated with substance misuse.
By opting for hair follicle testing, organizations ensure safer workplaces and demonstrate their commitment to upholding a drug-free environment. The compliance and peace it brings are crucial for cultivating a trustworthy and secure working atmosphere.
