Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive drug testing through hair follicle analysis in Dexter, Kentucky. Whether it's for drugs or alcohol, we focus on hair tests and have centers nationwide. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of head or body hair is needed. These tests can identify drugs, alcohol/ETG, or be customized to specific needs.
Recently, hair follicle testing has become a standard in drug testing. Employers, courts, and Substance Abuse experts prefer it over urine tests. It's favored for zero-tolerance policies, legal requirements, and probation tracking. Its main advantage is its extended detection window, up to 90 days, which is collected under supervision and difficult to manipulate. However, urine tests remain most accurate for drug use within the past 5 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 has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the fiber of the hair strands as they grow. When clipped near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch hair sample, consisting of approximately 200 strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil), nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-on tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If head hair is not available, a corresponding volume of body hair can be taken. When we mention head hair, we only mean scalp hair, while body hair denotes other types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The four integral phases in a lab's drug test result process are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the primary handling of a sample into a lab’s framework. This process includes ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Screening is a low-cost approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, but a positive screening requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples indicating a preliminary positive in Screening need a subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample hint at a positive outcome in the Screening stage, more hair is extracted from the initial batch and then processed for Extraction. Here, drugs are withdrawn from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other practices (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug tests are the most challenging to administer.
Confirmation for any positive screening result is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: As commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Dexter, KY, offers several advantages over traditional urine tests. Unlike urine tests, hair assessments provide a superior detection timeline and precision. They are considered more reliable because they are less likely to be tampered with, offering a trustworthy way to uncover drug or alcohol use over extended periods, making them a preferred choice.
While urine tests might detect recent use effectively, hair tests offer a broader picture, allowing a view of habitual usage patterns. This offers a significant advantage, particularly for zero-tolerance workplaces and legal settings, where enhanced detection accuracy enhances safety and compliance.
Hair follicle testing in Dexter, KY, is esteemed for its extended detection window of up to 90 days, a period much longer than that of urine tests. This longer timeframe facilitates a comprehensive review of an individual's substance use history, aiding employers in creating informed decisions about applicants or employees.
Such an extended detection capability is invaluable, providing a broader view of behavioral patterns rather than focusing solely on recent activities. This enhanced perspective allows organizations to ensure commitment to maintaining drug-free environments more effectively.
Hair follicle tests in Dexter, KY, are known for their tamper-resistant nature, providing reliable and trustworthy results. The testing method limits the risk of sample adulteration, a common issue with other types of drug testing, thereby delivering answers that carry untarnished credibility.
By opting for hair tests, employers and legal entities receive benefits of robust, nearly impossible to manipulate results that form a solid basis for informed decision-making, supporting drug-free workplace initiatives and legal mandates efficiently.
The availability of nationwide testing centers and local options in Dexter, KY, means convenient access to hair follicle drug testing. This widespread network ensures individuals and organizations can engage in testing services that are quick, simple, and hassle-free, eliminating unnecessary barriers.
Dexter’s positioning within an extensive testing network underscores the adaptability and responsiveness to both localized needs and broader organizational mandates, facilitating a straightforward testing process wherever needed.
The hair follicle testing process in Dexter, KY, is simple and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease at every step from ordering to result reception. Such simplicity alleviates concerns about data security and privacy, meeting individuals' needs for discreet yet effective testing.
This user-friendly approach to drug testing enhances user experience, ensuring that individuals and organizations alike can conduct necessary checks without worry or hassle, preserving the confidentiality of the involved parties diligently.
Affordable pricing structures and fast turnaround times make hair follicle testing in Dexter, KY, an attractive option. Competitive rates coupled with swift results offer businesses excellent value, fostering peace of mind by enabling informed decisions swiftly and cost-effectively.
This balance of cost and efficiency makes the service appealing to companies of all sizes, underscoring a commitment to delivering top-tier, economical testing solutions without sacrificing quality or reliability in outcomes.
In Dexter, KY, hair follicle drug testing delivers fast, accurate, and reliable results. Known for precision and speed, this method detects substance use with high accuracy. It stands out for its ability to provide results swiftly, bolstering trust in the data and aiding timely decision-making processes.
The efficiency of hair testing ensures individuals and employers receive dependable outcomes without the lengthy waits associated with other testing methods, maintaining a high standard of reliability that is crucial for effective substance monitoring.
Implementing hair follicle testing for workplace drug-free policies in Dexter, KY, promotes compliance and offers peace of mind for employers. This method meets the legal criterions effectively, reducing potential legal risks and enhancing workplace safety through comprehensive screening.
Employers can trust results from hair testing to uphold safety standards, ensuring they are aligned with compliance requirements and fostering a drug-free environment efficiently, which solidifies organizational and employee security.