Located in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services. With a network of testing centers across the country, we are experts in both hair drug and alcohol testing. For an effective test, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the scalp or body is necessary. This method allows for the detection of drugs, alcohol/ETG, or bespoke hair testing configurations.
The preference for hair follicle drug tests has grown in recent years for drug screening purposes. Employers, judicial systems, and substance abuse experts often opt for this method over traditional urine tests. Employers with stringent no-drug policies, courts, and probationary programs find this method valuable for its extended detection timeline, spanning up to 90 days, collected with direct supervision, and its resistance to tampering. However, urine tests remain superior for identifying recent drug use within a 5-day window.
* 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 now recognized as a strong method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a long-term record of substances by holding biomarkers within the hair's growing fibers. Collecting hair near the scalp allows for up to a 3-month window to detect alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, moderately challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or screenings beyond 10 panels, 150mg of hair is recommended. A jeweler's scale can be used to weigh it. If scalp hair can't be used, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. 'Head hair' refers exclusively to scalp hair. Any other hair type, such as facial or axillary, is categorized as 'body hair.'
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test involves these four steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the step where a sample is first integrated into the laboratory's system. This comprises checking that the sample is properly sealed and shipped, giving it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing missing data not included by the electronic chain of custody.
Screening conducts a preliminary fast assessment for drug presence. It economically eliminates drug usage for most samples, but to be court-admissible, positive screens must be confirmed. Thus, any sample flagged positive in Screening needs additional verification.
Once a Screening stage returns a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are retrieved from hair in much smaller quantities than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why performing a hair drug screen is particularly challenging.
For confirming positive screenings, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods are used. All samples presumed positive are washed before confirmation as required. Each stage from Accessioning to Confirmation is vetted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard alongside the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Tests called "hair follicle tests" actually analyze hair strands, not the follicles beneath the scalp.
When compared with traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing stands out in Hillsborough, NC, due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which have a limited detection window, hair tests can identify drug use over several months, offering a more comprehensive view of an individual's substance history. The enhanced accuracy of hair tests ensures that they are harder to circumvent.
Hair follicle testing in Hillsborough, NC, offers an extended detection window, tracking drug usage for up to 90 days. This in-depth analysis assists employers in understanding a candidate or employee's long-term substance use. By scrutinizing patterns over a prolonged period, it provides a thorough overview that's incredibly beneficial in maintaining a drug-free environment.
Conducting hair follicle tests in Hillsborough, NC, significantly reduces the possibility of sample tampering. Its tamper-resistant method ensures that the test results are dependable and unquestionable. Hair samples, unlike urine samples, are much harder to alter or manipulate, providing an added layer of reliability for employers and agencies seeking accurate testing outcomes.
Accredited Drug Testing assures convenience with both nationwide and local testing centers in Hillsborough, NC. Our expanse of facilities guarantees quick, easy, and hassle-free access to hair follicle testing services, making it accessible for individuals and organizations seeking reliable testing without the complexities of extensive travel.
The hair follicle testing process in Hillsborough, NC, is designed to be simple and confidential. Ordering tests, providing samples, and obtaining results are structured to maintain privacy, providing users with assurance regarding the handling of personal information. Our process is smooth and user-friendly, catering to diverse needs effectively.
We offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle drug testing in Hillsborough, NC. Our competitive rates paired with efficient processing times deliver great value for businesses of varied scales. This strategy allows organizations to optimize their resources while maintaining high standards of testing quality and reliability.
In Hillsborough, NC, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results, ensuring precise detection of substance use. This testing method delivers high accuracy through cutting-edge analysis techniques, allowing for quick identification of drug usage patterns. High precision reduces the chances of false positives, making them a preferred choice for various institutions.
Implementing hair follicle testing in Hillsborough, NC, enhances compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind for employers. It minimizes legal exposure by ensuring adherence to protocols and positively impacting workplace safety. By utilizing this method, companies can effectively uphold standards and foster a safe working environment.