In Collingswood, New Jersey, Accredited Drug Testing offers complete hair follicle drug testing services. Specializing in hair-based tests for drugs and alcohol, we provide nationwide testing facilities, including customized testing options. Generally, hair samples from the crown or body are suitable if you have 1.5 to 2 inches of hair. These tests can analyze a range of substances effectively.
Hair follicle drug testing has become increasingly popular as a reliable testing method. Many employers, legal authorities, and substance abuse specialists now prefer it over urine tests. Beneficial for zero-tolerance policies, probation, and court mandates, hair tests offer an extended detection period of up to 90 days, are nearly cheat-proof, and involve monitored sample collection. However, urine tests remain more precise for recent usage 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 increasingly recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering an extended-term record of substance use. When procured near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug consumption for nearly a 3-month period. The collection process is straightforward, the alteration is somewhat challenging, and it facilitates easy transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, with around 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil), collected nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and tests beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler's scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair may be utilized. By head hair, we mean exclusively scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four core stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
In Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing into the lab's system. This stage ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data input not available via an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening includes a preliminary rapid assessment for drug abuse. While it serves as an economical method to dismiss drug presence in most samples, court validity requires confirmation of positive screens. Samples with a presumptive positive outcome in Screening need secondary confirmation.
For samples presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is drawn from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most intricate methodology to execute.
Confirmation of positive screening results is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS analyses. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples undergo washing as needed. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although sometimes called "hair follicle tests," the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.
