Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug tests in Durham, North Carolina. For both hair drug and alcohol tests, we specialize in hair testing with centers available in every city nationwide. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the crown or elsewhere on the body are acceptable. Our tests can analyze for drugs, alcohol/ETG, or provide custom hair testing solutions.
Over recent years, hair follicle drug testing has become increasingly popular. Many employers, courts, and substance abuse professionals are opting for this method over standard urine tests. Hair follicle tests are favored by employers with strict no-drug policies, courts, and probation cases due to their longer detection period, which can extend up to 90 days, and the difficulty in tampering. For detecting use within 5 days, urine tests remain most accurate.
* 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 recognized as an effective means of detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair strands capture a long-term record of substance use by embedding specific biomarkers within the hair as it grows. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can reflect a usage history of alcohol and drugs for as long as three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and can be transported without difficulty.
A sample that is 1.5 inches long, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil), taken closest to the scalp, yields 100mg, which is ideal for analysis. For more comprehensive tests like EtG, additional panels, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of specimen is preferred. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equal quantity of body hair may be used. The term head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types such as facial hair and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory process for drug testing involves four critical steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the primary intake of a sample within a laboratory's technology platform. This stage ensures the sample is sealed and transported correctly, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and encompasses any additional tasks not completed by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides a swift preliminary evaluation for illicit substances. While it is a cost-effective strategy to exclude drug use in numerous cases, a positive screen necessitates confirmation before it is allowable in a legal setting. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.
Upon receiving a positive indication during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are separated from the hair at lower concentrations than other test modalities (e.g., urine or saliva), marking hair drug testing as the toughest methodology to administer.
Positive screenings are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS procedures. Prior to confirmation, any presumptively positive samples are cleaned as required. From Accessioning through to Confirmation, the entire laboratory sequence is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Durham, NC is clear due to its unparalleled benefits. Unlike traditional urine testing, hair testing offers a substantial detection window, capable of identifying substance use for up to 90 days. This feature alone makes it a superior choice, providing more reliable and comprehensive information for organizations.
Extended Detection Window in Durham, NC offers enhanced substance history insights with hair follicle testing. Whereas urine tests provide short-term data, hair tests reveal up to 90 days of drug use. Employers gain a comprehensive view of an individual’s substance interactions, aiding more informed decision-making processes.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Durham, NC is exemplified by hair follicle tests, which greatly minimize manipulation risk. This method ensures authenticity and integrity of results, crucial in sensitive scenarios such as legal cases or stringent workplace policies, where reliability is paramount and results must be trusted without question.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Durham, NC highlight the accessibility of our services. With numerous testing centers nationwide, stakeholders can easily find a nearby facility, ensuring quick and efficient testing access without unnecessary hassles, regardless of where employees are situated.
Simple, Confidential Process in Durham, NC ensures privacy and ease from ordering to results. The discreet nature of hair follicle testing safeguards personal information while maintaining straightforward processes. Clients can trust the confidentiality, reassuring them in situations where privacy is a priority.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Durham, NC make our hair follicle testing an attractive option. Competitive pricing coupled with quick results provides excellent value, ensuring companies of all sizes have access to high-quality testing without excessive costs or delays.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Durham, NC emphasize the efficiency of hair follicle tests. Known for their precision, these tests can swiftly detect substances, ensuring organizations have timely and dependable results. Their capability to deliver high accuracy makes them a preferred choice in various sectors where timeliness and reliability are crucial.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Durham, NC is achieved through hair follicle testing. Aligning with workplace drug-free policies, this method minimizes legal risks and enhances safety. Hair testing assures employers of adherence to standards, promoting a secure and responsible working environment.
