In Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services. For those requiring drug or alcohol testing through hair samples, our centers, located nationwide, are equipped to administer these tests. Typically, samples are taken from 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the crown or other body areas. These tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or offer tailored options.
The hair follicle drug test has increasingly become a preferred method in recent years. Many employers, legal entities, and substance abuse experts opt for hair testing over traditional urine tests. This method is ideal for employers enforcing zero-tolerance drug policies, the judiciary, and individuals on probation. Its primary advantage lies in its extended detection window, up to 90 days, in a controlled collection environment, making it highly tamper-resistant. Nevertheless, urine tests remain the most precise for detecting 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 analysis is recognized as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within its growing strands. When taken near the scalp, it can reveal substance use for up to about 90 days. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches with roughly 200 hairs (similar in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp can provide 100mg of hair, deemed the optimal amount for testing and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional testing, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. Should scalp hair be insufficient, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be obtained. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key steps in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning handles the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s framework. This process entails ensuring the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data needing entry, which an electronic chain of custody system might not provide.
Screening offers a preliminary assessment for drugs of concern. While it serves as a cost-effective method to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive finding requires confirmation to be legally valid. Any preliminary positives in Screening mandate a subsequent verification step.
If a sample tests tentatively positive during Screening, extra hair is taken from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug assessment is the most challenging procedure to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples with assumed positives undergo washing before final confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation standards of ISO / IEC 17025.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle tests in Bridgewater, MA, outshine traditional urine tests in several ways. Longer detection timeframe, extending to 90 days, and the reliability of results, make them superior. With hair testing, false negatives are minimized, providing a more accurate assessment of an individual's substance use history.
Employers in Bridgewater, MA, find hair follicle testing invaluable due to its extended detection window. Unlike shorter-term tests, hair analysis reveals a comprehensive substance use history for up to 90 days, offering more reliable insights for informed hiring and employment decisions.
The hair follicle testing method in Bridgewater, MA, greatly reduces sample tampering risks. This tamper-resistant method ensures unaltered, dependable results, eliminating the possibility of sample adulteration and thereby providing peace of mind to all parties involved.
In Bridgewater, MA, and beyond, our widespread testing centers ensure that testing services are easily accessible nationwide. Convenient local options mean that “convenience” and “efficiency” are always the priorities in our service delivery model.
Our testing process in Bridgewater, MA, is known for its simplicity and confidentiality. Easily ordering, conducting, and receiving results protects user privacy and ensures peace of mind. The simple, confidential process is tailored for client comfort and ease of use.
Bridgewater, MA, offers competitive pricing strategies, making hair follicle testing both affordable and accessible. Paired with quick processing times, our services provide outstanding value for organizations of any size, ensuring an economical yet effective testing solution.
In Bridgewater, MA, hair follicle drug tests are recognized for their speed and reliability. When it comes to detecting drug and alcohol use, their precision is unmatched. Fast and accurate results ensure that employers and individuals receive timely, trustworthy information about substance use.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Bridgewater, MA, helps employers adhere to drug-free workplace policies. This enhances overall safety and reduces legal risks, granting businesses compliance and peace of mind.
