Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services in Amherst Center, Massachusetts. If you're in need of a hair drug or alcohol test, our expertise in hair testing is unmatched. We operate testing facilities nationwide, ready to conduct hair tests. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair is required. Hair tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, and offer other customized testing options.
Recently, hair follicle drug tests have become increasingly popular for drug screening. Employers, judicial systems, and Substance Abuse specialists are favoring hair tests over traditional urine tests. Hair follicle testing is ideal for employers with stringent drug policies, court usage, and probation monitoring. A key advantage of hair tests is their extended detection period, up to 90 days, and overseen sample collection, minimizing cheating. However, for recent drug use detection within 5 days, urine tests remain superior.
* 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 has gained a reputation as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can encapsulate biomarkers in its fibers, giving a long-term view of alcohol and drug use. When taken near the scalp, hair provides approximately a 3-month detection timeframe for substances. It's easy to collect hair, tamper-resistant, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (similar to the diameter of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for screening and confirming. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be absent, a proportional amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, whereas body hair encapsulates all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The process comprises four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first step where a sample is integrated into a lab’s system, including confirming its correct sealing and shipping, assigning a distinct LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any missing data not included in an electronic chain of custody record.
Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for substance abuse. Though Screening is economical for ruling out drug usage in most samples, to be permissible in court, a confirmed result is necessary. Samples that display a presumptive positive in Screening need to undergo secondary confirmation.
In cases of presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations lower than those used in other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening as the most challenging practice.
Confirmation of positive results follows using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and by accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", they actually evaluate the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Amherst Center, MA clearly outranks traditional urine testing in terms of detection accuracy. It excels by identifying a wider range of substances over a prolonged period, offering unbeatable reliability and precision in comparison to other methods.
In Amherst Center, MA, hair follicle testing provides an enhanced drug detection period, identifying substance use history up to 90 days. This extended window enables employers to thoroughly assess an applicant or employee’s past drug use.
Hair follicle testing is a preferred method in Amherst Center, MA due to its tamper-resistant qualities. It significantly lowers the chance of adulteration, ensuring results remain dependable and irrefutable.
Our extensive network of testing centers includes convenient locations in Amherst Center, MA, offering ease of access nationwide. This setup guarantees swift and hassle-free testing services wherever needed.
The hair follicle testing process in Amherst Center, MA is both straightforward and private. We ensure user-friendly procedures for ordering, testing, and receiving results, addressing privacy concerns efficiently.
Our Amherst Center, MA facilities provide competitively priced hair follicle testing with prompt result turnaround. We deliver value and peace of mind for businesses of all scales, emphasizing both affordability and speed.
At our Amherst Center, MA facilities, hair follicle testing offers swift and precise results. Known for their high accuracy, these tests aptly identify substance use.
By choosing hair testing, organizations gain rapid insights, free from uncertainty.
Employers in Amherst Center, MA benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring adherence to drug-free policies, thereby mitigating legal challenges and maintaining a safe work environment.
This testing method offers peace of mind through reliable compliance.