Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services in New Castle Northwest, Pennsylvania. If you require a hair-based drug or alcohol test, our specialty is hair testing, backed by nationwide testing centers in various cities capable of conducting the hair test. Typically, you'll need 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from your head or body. We offer analyses for drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other customizable hair testing solutions.
Recently, the approach to conducting drug tests has seen a rise in hair follicle testing. Various employers, courts, and substance abuse experts now favor it over the usual urine tests. Employers with zero-tolerance drug policies, courts, and those on probation often opt for hair follicle testing due to its extended drug detection window of up to 90 days, the overseen sample collection, and the near impossibility of tampering. Nonetheless, for drug use checks within the past 5 days, urine tests remain highly 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.
The use of hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By encapsulating biomarkers within the growing hair strand fibers, hair offers an extended historical view of alcohol and other drug use. When taken near the scalp, the hair can offer a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient for transportation.
To obtain the optimal sample for screening and confirmation, a 1.5-inch sample of roughly 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100 mg of hair. For EtG, add-ons, or evaluations above 10 panels, 150 mg of the specimen is advised. It's recommended to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be acquired. References to head hair specifically imply scalp hair. Conversely, body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result includes four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory system. During this step, the sample's secure seal and proper shipment are verified, a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) is assigned, and any extra data not available through an electronic chain of custody is entered.
Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug presence in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Any samples showing presumptive positivity during Screening require further confirmation.
Should a sample indicate presumptive positivity at the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. This phase extracts drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS serve to confirm any positive screening outcome. All samples that test presumptive-positive are washed if necessary before confirmation. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In New Castle Northwest, PA, hair follicle testing provides substantial advantages over traditional urine tests. With enhanced detection accuracy, it reveals drug use patterns typically undetected by urine analysis, which primarily focuses on recent use. The comprehensive timeline covered offers deeper insight into substance habits.
The superior reliability of hair drug testing stems from its complex detection mechanism that resists evasion attempts, unlike urine tests that can be compromised. This aspect contributes to its growing preference among professionals, ensuring trustworthy results and aligning with stringent policies easily.
In New Castle Northwest, PA, one prominent benefit of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window, covering up to 90 days of drug use. This long-term view is crucial for employers assessing an individual's substance use history, offering insights that regular tests might miss.
Hair follicle tests outperform others in providing a thorough assessment of an employee's drug habits over time. This extended detection empowers employers to make informed decisions based on comprehensive data, enhancing workplace safety and policy compliance effectively and efficiently.
One of the outstanding benefits of the hair follicle test in New Castle Northwest, PA, is its tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other methods, the collection process and insightfulness reduce the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring trustworthy and indisputable results.
Hair testing's design naturally prevents common tampering tactics that compromise other test types. This resistance offers a level of security and reliability essential for maintaining integrity, ensuring that results remain wholly reliable and compellingly accurate.
Accredited Drug Testing boasts a network of nationwide centers making testing in New Castle Northwest, PA both easy and quick. The convenience offered by local locations ensures hassle-free access, ideal for busy individuals and businesses requiring prompt services.
Such widespread accessibility guarantees seamless testing, with local and national centers providing efficient and user-friendly access. Quick, straightforward options help streamline the testing process, catering to diverse needs and contributing to effective management and oversight of drug testing responsibilities.
In New Castle Northwest, PA, the hair follicle testing process epitomizes simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to taking the test and receiving the results, confidentiality is prioritized, addressing concerns over privacy while ensuring ease of use for all participants.
This straightforward approach maintains discretion without compromising effectiveness. Clients benefit from a smooth experience, supported by a system designed to deliver comprehensive results promptly and secretly, adhering to the highest ethical standards in confidential data handling.
Providing value and peace of mind, hair follicle testing in New Castle Northwest, PA is offered at affordable pricing with fast turnaround times. Our competitive pricing structure makes this advanced and reliable testing accessible to companies of all sizes, ensuring optimal investment in workplace safety.
The swift process expedites decision-making, backed by accurate and rapid results that don't compromise on affordability. Businesses appreciate the balance of cost-effectiveness and speed, reinforcing the effectiveness of hair testing as a resourceful solution in varied professional settings.
The efficiency and reliability of hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled in New Castle Northwest, PA. These tests offer high precision, swiftly detecting substance use and ensuring timely results. The meticulous testing process guarantees a dependable outcome by accurately identifying drug history.
Individuals relying on hair follicle tests benefit from rapid, consistent results that uphold the standard of excellence. Practitioners appreciate their ability to provide accurate assessments, making them a preferred choice in various scenarios. This heightened accuracy amplifies their effectiveness compared to other test methods.
Hair follicle testing in New Castle Northwest, PA, offers significant advantages in ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies, ultimately contributing to peace of mind for employers. Such tests reduce potential legal risks, promoting a safer and more efficient work environment.
Utilizing hair testing aligns organizational practices with regulatory compliance, safeguarding businesses from workplace disputes. The reliable nature of these tests supports rigorous policy enforcement, making them an attractive option for maintaining high standards of employee performance and safety.