Our automated scheduling system is available 24/7. Order your test online and receive your donor/registration pass by email. Click Here
Same Day Service
Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services in Reading, Pennsylvania. If you require a hair drug or alcohol test, Accredited Drug Testing is a specialist in hair testing, with testing centers located in every city across the nation that can conduct a hair test. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the head or body can be used. Hair testing can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other custom options.
Hair follicle drug testing has become increasingly common for drug screening in recent years. Employers, courts, and Substance Abuse professionals often choose a hair test over a standard urine test. Hair follicle tests are preferred by employers with zero-tolerance drug policies, as well as by courts and probation officers. One key advantage of hair testing is its longer detection period, typically up to 90 days, collected in a supervised process, making cheating nearly impossible. However, for detecting recent drug use (within the last 5 days), urine tests remain more accurate.
Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services in Reading, Pennsylvania. If you require a hair drug or alcohol test, Accredited Drug Testing is a specialist in hair testing, with testing centers located in every city across the nation that can conduct a hair test. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the head or body can be used. Hair testing can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other custom options.
Hair follicle drug testing has become increasingly common for drug screening in recent years. Employers, courts, and Substance Abuse professionals often choose a hair test over a standard urine test. Hair follicle tests are preferred by employers with zero-tolerance drug policies, as well as by courts and probation officers. One key advantage of hair testing is its longer detection period, typically up to 90 days, collected in a supervised process, making cheating nearly impossible. However, for detecting recent drug use (within the last 5 days), urine tests remain more 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 assessments are regarded as an effective method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair strands capture long-term evidence of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair's fibrous structure as it grows. When hair is sampled near the scalp, it can reveal alcohol and drug exposure for an approximate duration of three months. Hair collection is straightforward, presents challenges for tampering, and is convenient to transport.
Obtaining a 1.5-inch segment comprising around 200 hair strands (roughly akin to a #2 pencil's thickness) adjacent to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or evaluations beyond ten panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. We suggest measuring the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. References to head hair imply only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types, such as facial or axillary.
Process Overview
The laboratory's handling of a drug test outcome encompasses four principal phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory's database. This entails ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any other data entry not included by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary rapid examination for drug presence. Though cost-efficient for dismissing drug presence in most samples, a positive screen necessitates affirmation to be legally acceptable. Samples showing a positive indication in Screening must undergo further validation.
If a sample appears positive during Screening, additional hair from the original specimen undergoes preparation for Extraction. This phase involves retrieving drugs from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other techniques such as urine or oral fluid testing, which is why hair drug screening presents a considerable challenge.
Confirming any positive Screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating possible positivity are appropriately cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair endorsement and accreditation under ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the assessment targets the hair strand rather than the follicle located beneath the scalp
With its multidisciplinary nature, hair testing brings together researchers, scientists, and experts from various domains to develop innovative techniques, explore new methodologies, and address emerging concerns, responding to the ever-evolving challenges of drug abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, and environmental exposures to pollutants.
The joint meeting of the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) and the Italian Group of Forensic Toxicologists (GTFI) was organized in Verona, June 8–10, 2022, and hosted by the Legal Medicine team of the Verona University Hospital, directed by Franco Tagliaro together with Federica Bortolotti and Rossella Gottardo.
It served as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, facilitating groundbreaking advancements in hair testing and analysis. In this special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, we aim to showcase the remarkable manuscripts presented at this significant event, shedding light on the latest research and highlighting the future directions in this field.
Novel Analytical Techniques: The Verona meeting witnessed the unveiling of cutting-edge analytical techniques, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy for drug testing. Remarkable advancements in sample preparation, detection, and identification of drug compounds have been presented. The manuscripts in this section presented novel approaches, such as multianalyte methods and on-line preparation which can enable rapid analysis and improve thorough forensic investigations.
Biomarkers and Pharmacokinetics: The identification and validation of reliable biomarkers and pharmacokinetic studies are fundamental aspects of drug testing and analysis. The impact of hair treatments on the oxidation/decomposition of drugs in hair was also explored, as the long-term fate of drugs incorporated in the keratin matrix. Furthermore, the SoHT meeting in Verona featured research on the identification and quantification of alcohol abuse biomarkers, their stability, and their correlation with exposure and other biomarkers.
Forensic Applications and Interpretation: One of the vital objectives of hair testing is its application in forensic investigations and legal proceedings. The SoHT meeting in Verona emphasized the significance of rigorous interpretation of analytical results and the need for standardized protocols. Manuscripts in this section present advancements in forensic toxicology, and have explored the challenges posed by emerging designer drugs and strategies to combat their proliferation. The pitfalls encountered when the exogenous/endogenous nature of a substance is questioned were presented and discussed. The special issue presents also manuscripts that delve into the ethical implications of drug testing in drug facilitated sexual assaults.
Clinical Applications of hair testing are witnessed by the insight on environmental tobacco smoke exposure, assessed by hair analysis in a population of students and the study of in utero-exposure to drugs of abuse through neonatal hair analysis. Exposure to drugs was also important in cases of child abuse/neglect, when the clinical purpose of hair testing merge with its forensic applications.
The legal framework surrounding hair testing and the achievement of guidelines to ensure fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality in drug testing practices have also been discussed,and the SoHT consensus on general hair testing and testing for drugs of abuse was presented at the meeting and published as a Letter to the Editor.
In conclusion, the special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, featuring manuscripts from the SoHT–GTFI meeting in Verona 2022, reflects the remarkable advancements achieved in this field. The manuscripts provide valuable insights into novel analytical techniques, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, forensic applications, and ethical considerations. As we embrace these advancements, we pave the way for a safer, healthier society, where drug testing and analysis serve as powerful tools in protecting public health and maintaining integrity in various sectors. The research presented in this special issue will undoubtedly shape the future of drug testing and analysis, fostering collaboration and inspiring further innovation in this crucial area of scientific inquiry.
Quickly find trusted local drug testing centers in Reading, PA — fast, convenient, and reliable every time!
Quickly find a local DOT drug testing center in Reading, PA — fast, reliable, convenient nationwide service!
DNA testing for legal and non-legal purposes including child support, and child custody around Reading, PA.
Including specimen collector training, DER training, reasonable suspicion training and much more in Reading, PA.v
Get fast, accurate hair drug testing at our convenient Reading, PA locations—results you can trust, every time!
Fast, reliable alcohol testing to keep your workplace safe and compliant every single day in Reading, PA.
Reliable nationwide drug testing services ensuring accuracy, compliance, and quick results for businesses and individuals in Reading, PA.
Accurate 5 panel drug testing with fast, confidential results—trusted by Reading, PA employers and individuals nationwide.
Comprehensive 10 panel drug testing with fast, reliable results—trusted for Reading, PA workplace and personal testing needs.
Convenient on-site mobile drug testing with fast, reliable results—saving time while keeping your Reading, PA workplace compliant.
Certified DOT physicals with quick, reliable exams to keep Reading, PA drivers compliant and on the road with confidence.
Join our DOT consortium for hassle-free compliance, random testing management, and reliable driver safety solutions.
I needed a quick drug test for visitation with my children. I called at 6am they answered and set me up with a place a couple miles from my house to go get the test done, that was on Wednesday, I had the results on Friday afternoon and was able to see my kids on Saturday. Thank you for the help!
Mark Broadhead - 2/12/2025
Trish last week and Tatiana this week, very fun and easy folks to deal with. Well be using them more and more in the future.
Tom O - 12/19/2024
Very professional and very quick service to schedule appointments! I am pleased with the services and would definitely recommend using them for any drug testing needs!
Carrie Feerick - 4/19/2025