In Belmont, Massachusetts, Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services. Specializing in hair tests for both drug and alcohol detection, they maintain a nationwide network of testing centers ready to perform hair analysis. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair is needed from the scalp, but body hair can often be used. The tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, and offer other customized testing options.
Recently, hair follicle drug tests have become more prevalent in drug testing practices. Many employers, legal systems, and substance abuse experts now prefer hair tests over traditional urine tests. This method is favored by zero-tolerance employers, courts, and probation officers due to its extensive detection period of up to 90 days and observed collection, making it difficult to tamper with. However, urine tests remain most accurate for identifying recent drug use within five 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 testing is highly regarded as an effective way to identify drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows, hair offers a prolonged history of substance intake. When considering hair samples taken near the scalp, one can expect detection of substances for up to roughly three months. It is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch sample containing roughly 200 hair strands (equal to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, considered the ideal sample for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar amount of body hair is acceptable. When we refer to head hair, we mean only scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning relates to the initial processing stage of a sample into a lab's system. This phase involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary quick test for substances of abuse. Although Screening serves as a cost-efficient method for ruling out drug use in most samples, any positive result must be verified for legal admissibility. Any samples that yield a presumptive positive result during Screening need a secondary confirmation.
In the event a sample is flagged as presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Extraction preparation. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies.
The Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. Samples that are presumptive positive undergo washing ahead of confirmation when necessary. The entire laboratory sequence, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and in adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: The commonly used term "hair follicle tests" is somewhat misleading as the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing surpasses urine drug tests in Belmont, MA. It provides enhanced detection accuracy and reliability, giving an edge over traditional urine tests. The method's comprehensive detection abilities make it superior for substance misuse screening.
The extended detection window of up to 90 days makes hair follicle testing in Belmont, MA ideal for revealing comprehensive drug use history. Employers gain an extensive view of the applicant or employee's past substance use.
In Belmont, MA, the hair follicle testing method is notably tamper-resistant, significantly lowering the chance of sample tampering. This ensures that the results are trustworthy and beyond reproach.
With convenient locations across the nation and locally in Belmont, MA, we ensure quick and effortless access to testing services, facilitating hassle-free drug testing experiences.
The hair follicle testing process in Belmont, MA is straightforward and private, making it easy for individuals to order, take the test, and receive results while ensuring confidentiality at each step.
In Belmont, MA, our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times deliver excellent value, providing organizations, regardless of size, with peace of mind and financial efficiency.
In Belmont, MA, hair follicle drug testing offers rapid and precise results. With its high level of accuracy, this testing method can reliably detect substance use, ensuring that the findings are both fast and dependable.
Employers in Belmont, MA, maintain compliance and ensure peace of mind with hair follicle testing, which aligns with drug-free workplace policies. This reduces legal exposures and enhances safety in the workplace.
