Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug testing in Saint Nicholas, Minnesota. If you're in need of a hair drug or alcohol test, we specialize in hair testing and provide testing centers in all cities Nationwide capable of conducting hair tests. Generally, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair on the head or body is required. Hair tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or can be customized for other options.
In recent times, the approach to drug testing increasingly involves a hair follicle method. Many employers, judicial systems, and Substance Abuse experts now often prefer a hair drug test over a typical urine test. Hair follicle testing is ideal for employers with strict anti-drug use policies, the courts, and those on probation. Its primary advantage is a longer drug detection period, reaching up to 90 days, collected in a monitored procedure, and challenging to deceive. Nevertheless, for drug use screening within the past 5 days, urine tests remain most reliable.
* 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.
The analysis of hair has emerged as an effective mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When sampled near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use over an approximately 3-month period. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient for transportation.
A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches and containing around 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields approximately 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation tests. For tests such as EtG, or those exceeding 10 panels, a recommended 150mg should be obtained. It's advisable to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is absent, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory steps for processing drug test results include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step where a sample enters a lab's system. It involves verifying proper sealing and shipping, assigning it a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not handled by an electronic custody chain.
Screening is a preliminary assessment for drug presence. Though cost-effective for excluding drug presence in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for judicial validity. Samples testing positive initially require additional confirmation.
Should the Screening indicate potential positivity, more hair from the original sample is prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drug traces are extracted from hair at a substantially lower concentration compared to tests like urine or saliva, highlighting hair testing's complexity.
Confirming any positive outcomes from Screening involves methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated according to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is often misused, as the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Saint Nicholas, MN
Extended Detection Window in Saint Nicholas, MN
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Saint Nicholas, MN
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Saint Nicholas, MN
Simple, Confidential Process in Saint Nicholas, MN
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Saint Nicholas, MN
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Saint Nicholas, MN
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Saint Nicholas, MN
