Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug assessments in Gambrills, Maryland. For those in need of a hair drug or alcohol analysis, our expertise is in hair testing, with centers available in all cities across the nation. A length of 1.5 to 2 inches of hair on the scalp or elsewhere on the body is typically required. Tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or be tailored with other hair testing solutions.
In recent years, hair follicle drug testing has become a more common method for drug testing. Employers, legal entities, and substance abuse specialists increasingly prefer hair drug tests over the traditional urine tests. Zero-tolerance employers, the judiciary, and probation agencies use these tests. The chief advantage of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window, usually up to 90 days, coupled with an observed collection process that is nearly infallible. However, for screening drug use within the past five days, urine tests remain the most precise.
* 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 recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged history of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair's fibers. When hair is collected from near the scalp, it can provide a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drug presence. Hair collection is straightforward, fairly tamper-resistant, and easy for shipping.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, added tests, or panels above 10, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be collected, a similar amount of body hair may be used. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary stages in processing a drug test in the laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning consists of the initial insertion of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This includes verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional data absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening represents a preliminary rapid evaluation for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective approach to dismiss drug involvement in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for legal acceptance. Samples indicating a presumptive positive in Screening need a secondary confirmation.
Should a sample exhibit a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is drawn from the primary sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a concentration notably lower than other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug testing the most challenging methodology to conduct.
Any positive result during Screening is confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are cleaned prior to confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When considering drug testing methods in Gambrills, MD, hair follicle tests outshine traditional urine tests. Hair tests provide a superior detection period and enhanced reliability. Unlike urine tests, which offer a limited detection window, hair testing covers a much more extended timeframe, allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation of an individual's drug use history.
Hair follicle testing in Gambrills, MD, delivers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, unlike other tests. This duration offers employers a broad picture of an employee or applicant's substance use patterns. By capturing long-term drug usage, this testing method facilitates informed decisions based on a detailed substance history profile.
In Gambrills, MD, hair follicle testing stands out as a tamper-resistant method, drastically minimizing the chance of sample alteration. As it's challenging to adulterate a hair sample compared to others, businesses and legal entities favor this test for its reliability. The unassailability of the sample ensures results that are beyond dispute.
With testing locations spread nationwide, including Gambrills, MD, our services promise a convenient and hassle-free experience. Easy access to drug testing centers ensures that stakeholders don't face unnecessary travel or time delays. Our extensive network allows quick and simple access to vital testing services for all.
Our process in Gambrills, MD is simple and confidential from start to finish. Ordering a test, undergoing the procedure, and receiving results are designed to be straightforward, respecting privacy every step of the way. This ensures users can confidently partake in the process without concerns over confidentiality breaches.
Offering affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Gambrills, MD, deliver great value for businesses of any size. This competitive pricing structure, coupled with quickly rendered results, assures clients they're receiving top-quality service at an economical rate, perfect for all organizational budgets.
In Gambrills, MD, hair follicle tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes, making them a preferred choice for detecting substance use. These tests are noted for their high precision, ensuring each result is dependable. The state-of-the-art technology used in these tests identifies substance use efficiently, offering peace of mind to both employers and individuals.
Employers in Gambrills, MD, find that hair follicle testing aligns perfectly with workplace compliance needs, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace regulations. This testing method reduces potential legal liabilities and bolsters safety within the work environment, offering employers peace of mind regarding policy enforcement.
