In Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services. If you're seeking a hair drug or alcohol test, we specialize in hair testing and have centers nationwide capable of performing such tests. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair is required from the crown or body. Hair tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or be customized to suit other testing needs.
In recent trends, the preference for hair follicle drug testing has increased. Employers, courts, and Substance Abuse experts now often prefer a hair drug test over traditional urine tests. Hair follicle tests are favored by zero-tolerance workplaces, courts, and probation services due to their ability to detect drug use for up to 90 days, their observed collection process, and their resistance to tampering. However, urine tests remain the most accurate for identifying 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 is now regarded as an effective means to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within its growing strands. When hair is gathered close to the roots, it can detect alcohol and drugs for up to three months. This method is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch lock consisting of about 200 hairs (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp provides 100mg, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests beyond 10 panels, it is advised to collect a specimen weighing 150mg. The specimen should be weighed using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. Specifically, head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types such as facial or axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the sample's preliminary entry into a lab's system, ensuring its seal and proper shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening involves an initial rapid drug-use check. Although Screening is economical for eliminating drug use in most samples, any positive finding must be verified to be accepted in court. Presumptive positives in the Screening stage require further confirmation.
If Screening suggests a positive result, more hair is extracted from the sample for the Extraction process. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing.
To verify any positive screening outcomes, confirmation is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive results undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is verified under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation along with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the hair root under the scalp.
Hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests in Upper Marlboro, MD. Superiority in detection is evident through a longer detection window, capturing substance use history up to 90 days. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis provides consistent reliability, aiding in truly verifying adherence to no-drug policies and enhancing decision-making confidence for employers and relevant professionals.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing makes it an invaluable tool in Upper Marlboro, MD. While urine tests capture recent usage, hair testing offers insights into patterns of use over a 90-day period. This provides a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history, aiding employers in making informed decisions about prospective and current employees.
In Upper Marlboro, MD, hair follicle testing significantly curtails the chance of tampering. The technique's tamper-resistant nature ensures reliability, leaving little room for adulteration. It provides stakeholders with confidence in the results, eliminating the usual doubts associated with sample contamination, a common concern in standard testing methods like urine.
With nationwide and local testing centers, Upper Marlboro, MD enjoys convenient access to hair follicle testing services. The availability of efficient and readily accessible testing locations greatly facilitates the process for individuals and organizations alike, enabling quick, hassle-free testing without the inconvenience of travel or undue delays.
Hair follicle testing in Upper Marlboro, MD is a simple and confidential process. From ordering and testing to receiving results, the steps are streamlined to prioritize user privacy and ease of use. This approach alleviates concerns over confidentiality while ensuring that individuals and organizations can conduct necessary testing with minimal disruption to their routines.
In Upper Marlboro, MD, our hair follicle testing services offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround. This combination provides excellent value, ensuring that companies of all sizes can effectively manage their drug testing needs without significant financial burden, all while receiving timely results to promptly guide workplace safety decisions.
When it comes to drug testing precision, hair follicle tests stand out in Upper Marlboro, MD. They are renowned for their accuracy and speed, allowing employers to trust in the reliability of results. These tests efficiently detect substances over longer periods, ensuring vigilance in workplace safety endeavors while offering prompt results that align with the needs of busy schedules.
For Upper Marlboro, MD employers, hair follicle testing supports compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By using this method, organizations can reduce legal risks and improve workplace safety. The assurance of reliable, tamper-proof results also offers peace of mind, knowing their employees are adhering to company standards, fostering a safer, more compliant working environment.
