In Oldtown, Maryland, Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug screening. For those requiring a hair-based drug or alcohol test, our expertise lies in hair testing, with facilities available in every city across the nation. Generally, 1.5 to 2 inches of head or body hair is required. Hair tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or offer other bespoke testing options.
Recently, hair follicle drug testing has become an increasingly popular method for drug screening. Employers, courts, and substance abuse experts now prefer hair tests over the traditional urine method. Often used by organizations with strict anti-drug policies, hair tests offer an extended drug detection window of up to 90 days, ensuring a supervised and difficult-to-tamper-with process. However, for detecting recent drug use within the last five days, urine tests remain more 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 examinations are increasingly recognized as an effective means of identifying alcohol and drug usage. Hair retains an extensive record of substances by capturing biomarkers within the hair shaft itself. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer approximately a 3-month retrospective window for drugs and alcohol usage. The collection is straightforward, has a moderate level of tamper resistance, and is conveniently transportable.
A 1.5-inch portion consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) near the scalp sums up to 100mg, which is considered the perfect sample for both initial and confirmatory testing. For EtG, supplementary, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample weighing 150mg is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler's scale for weighing is advisable. If head hair is insufficient, an equivalent portion of body hair can be procured. When we mention head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types such as facial and axillary.
Process Overview
The quartet of pivotal stages in lab processing of a drug test outcome includes Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning constitutes the preliminary processing of a specimen into the lab's framework. This stage ensures the sample's integrity by verifying its proper sealing and transportation, assigns a distinctive LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any missing information absent from an e-chain of custody document.
Screening acts as an initial, swift assessment for illicit substances. Although Screening is a cost-efficient mechanism to dismiss drug use in the majority of cases, a reactive result demands subsequent confirmation for court admissibility. Samples that presumptively test positive during Screening necessitate further verification.
Should a testing sample yield a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the main specimen to undergo Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from the hair at far lower concentrations compared to other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thereby making hair drug screening a notably intricate procedure.
Confirmation of any positive screening results transpires via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS analyses. Before confirmation, all samples testing positive in preliminary screens are cleaned as required. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation complies with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) standards for hair and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", in reality, the analysis focuses on the hair shaft, not the follicle within the scalp.
Hair follicle testing offers numerous advantages over traditional urine testing. In Oldtown, MD, this superior method provides enhanced detection capabilities, making it invaluable for employers and agencies enforcing substance regulations. Its reputable accuracy and reliability outshine the limitations often encountered with urine tests, making hair testing the optimal choice.
Employers in Oldtown, MD, find value in the extended detection window of hair follicle testing, which spans up to 90 days. This capacity surpasses that of urine tests, offering a detailed substance use history. Such comprehensive insights allow employers to better assess potential employees and their historical compliance with drug-free policies.
Hair follicle testing stands out in Oldtown, MD, due to its tamper-resistant nature. The structured collection and analysis procedures mitigate the risks associated with sample contamination or manipulation, ensuring that the results remain reliable and trustworthy, critical factors for maintaining integrity in drug testing.
Accredited Drug Testing offers unparalleled accessibility with its network of nationwide and local centers in Oldtown, MD. This expansive availability guarantees that clients experience minimal inconvenience, benefiting from prompt and straightforward access to essential drug testing services, no matter their location.
Clients in Oldtown, MD, gain from a seamless and private process when opting for hair follicle testing. The straightforward steps from ordering to result delivery reassure those concerned about privacy and convenience, ensuring the user-friendly nature of the entire testing experience while maintaining confidentiality and ease.
Our hair follicle drug tests in Oldtown, MD, come with competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, offering excellent value for organizations. The cost-effectiveness and rapid results provided ensure that businesses of varying sizes receive quality service and comprehensive test outcomes without financial strain.
Hair follicle drug tests in Oldtown, MD, are synonymous with accuracy and rapid results. These tests are engineered to identify substance use reliably, providing precise data essential for informed decision-making. Such efficiency and dependability make hair follicle testing the preferred choice among discerning parties seeking quick and accurate outcomes.
In Oldtown, MD, hair follicle testing brings peace of mind to employers by ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace mandates. This method not only minimizes legal vulnerabilities but also fortifies workplace safety and standards, playing a crucial role in fostering a compliant and secure working environment for all.
