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 offers comprehensive hair follicle drug evaluations in Lakewood, SC. If a hair drug or alcohol assessment is required, Accredited Drug Testing is proficient in hair analysis, with centers available nationwide for conducting hair tests. Generally, 1.5 to 2 inches of head or body hair is needed. These tests can detect substances like drugs, alcohol/ETG, or customized options.
In recent trends, drug testing increasingly incorporates hair follicle tests. Employers, judicial systems, and Substance Abuse specialists are preferring hair tests over standard urine tests. Such tests are favored by employers with strict drug policies, courts, and probationary departments. A key advantage of hair tests is the extended detection period, typically up to 90 days, with observed collection ensuring accuracy and making it difficult to sabotage. Yet for recent drug use within 5 days, urine tests remain most accurate.
Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug evaluations in Lakewood, SC. If a hair drug or alcohol assessment is required, Accredited Drug Testing is proficient in hair analysis, with centers available nationwide for conducting hair tests. Generally, 1.5 to 2 inches of head or body hair is needed. These tests can detect substances like drugs, alcohol/ETG, or customized options.
In recent trends, drug testing increasingly incorporates hair follicle tests. Employers, judicial systems, and Substance Abuse specialists are preferring hair tests over standard urine tests. Such tests are favored by employers with strict drug policies, courts, and probationary departments. A key advantage of hair tests is the extended detection period, typically up to 90 days, with observed collection ensuring accuracy and making it difficult to sabotage. Yet for recent drug 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 has emerged as a potent method for identifying substance and alcohol use. Hair captures a long-term account of alcohol and other substances by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection range of up to about 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to ship.
A 1.5-inch segment comprising approximately 200 strands of hair (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest assessing the weight of the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory drug testing process is comprised of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning constitutes the initial stage of integrating a sample into a lab's system. This involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for illicit substances. While Screening is a budget-friendly method to exclude substance use in the majority of samples, a positive screen mandates confirmation to be valid in legal settings. All samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.
If a sample shows tentative positivity in the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this step, substances are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations than in alternative methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for hair drug screening being the most intricate methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result proceeds via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with preliminary positive results undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why do hair follicle tests outshine urine tests in Lakewood, SC? Hair testing presents numerous advantages over conventional methods. Firstly, it boasts a wider detection period compared to urine tests, highlighting a history of substance use rather than recent usage alone.
Furthermore, accuracy is paramount in hair testing. Unlike urine tests, hair samples can't be easily swapped or tampered with, offering unparalleled reliability. This is crucial for employers and other stakeholders who require integrity in testing processes.
In Lakewood, SC, hair follicle testing stands out for its extended detection window. This method allows for the identification of substance use over a period of up to 90 days, providing a comprehensive view of an individual’s history rather than just recent behavior.
The extended window is particularly beneficial for employers looking to make informed hiring or retention decisions. Understanding long-term substance use patterns can be crucial in maintaining a drug-free workplace and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
One of the great benefits of hair follicle tests in Lakewood, SC is their tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other drug tests, hair samples are difficult to adulterate, ensuring that results remain uncontested and providing reassurance to employers and other stakeholders.
This assurance of integrity in testing is invaluable, as it reduces the risk of manipulation and fraud. Employers can fully trust the reliability of hair testing when making decisions based on the results.
A benefit of choosing hair follicle testing in Lakewood, SC is the accessibility of our convenient nationwide testing locations. With our widespread centers, individuals, and organizations enjoy quick and hassle-free testing services.
Local availability ensures that getting tested is a straightforward process, reducing travel time and stress associated with testing procedures. This ease of access contributes to more efficient operations for both individual test-takers and organizations.
Residents of Lakewood, SC, experience a simple and confidential process when it comes to hair follicle testing. Our procedures prioritize ease of use, letting individuals easily order, take, and receive test results without a hitch.
Privacy is paramount, ensuring sensitive information remains secure throughout the process. This assurance allows test-takers to participate in testing without concerns about data breaches or personal exposure, maintaining trust in the system.
In Lakewood, SC, our hair follicle testing services offer affordable pricing along with a fast turnaround time. These services provide excellent value to companies of all sizes, accommodating budgetary constraints while delivering high-quality results.
Our competitive pricing structures ensure that businesses can access premium testing without excessive expenses, while the quick turnaround times ensure that they have the necessary information swiftly to make informed decisions.
In Lakewood, SC, hair follicle drug testing delivers fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method ensures high precision in detecting substance use, offering results that surpass traditional tests. Such reliability allows individuals and professionals to trust the results for making informed decisions.
Precision is key when it comes to hair follicle testing. The tests offer rapid results, typically within a few days, eliminating the lengthy waiting period often associated with other testing methods. This ensures employers and professionals can quickly respond to potential issues.
Employers in Lakewood, SC gain significant peace of mind using hair follicle tests to ensure compliance with drug-free policies. This approach significantly reduces legal and safety risks by thoroughly assessing employees’ substance use history.
With hair testing, employers can align with regulatory guidelines effectively, minimizing liabilities and creating a safer, more efficient workplace. Such measures enhance trust and performance within the organization, contributing to overall success.
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 Lakewood, SC — fast, convenient, and reliable every time!
Quickly find a local DOT drug testing center in Lakewood, SC — fast, reliable, convenient nationwide service!
DNA testing for legal and non-legal purposes including child support, and child custody around Lakewood, SC.
Including specimen collector training, DER training, reasonable suspicion training and much more in Lakewood, SC.v
Get fast, accurate hair drug testing at our convenient Lakewood, SC locations—results you can trust, every time!
Fast, reliable alcohol testing to keep your workplace safe and compliant every single day in Lakewood, SC.
Reliable nationwide drug testing services ensuring accuracy, compliance, and quick results for businesses and individuals in Lakewood, SC.
Accurate 5 panel drug testing with fast, confidential results—trusted by Lakewood, SC employers and individuals nationwide.
Comprehensive 10 panel drug testing with fast, reliable results—trusted for Lakewood, SC workplace and personal testing needs.
Convenient on-site mobile drug testing with fast, reliable results—saving time while keeping your Lakewood, SC workplace compliant.
Certified DOT physicals with quick, reliable exams to keep Lakewood, SC drivers compliant and on the road with confidence.
Join our DOT consortium for hassle-free compliance, random testing management, and reliable driver safety solutions.
Trish was amazing and got me through the sytem very fast and swift. I had a hard time hearing her a couple of times, but she was super sweet and helpful throughout the process. Highly recommend her!
Sophia Schutze - 6/19/2024
Quick, knowledgeable and courteous Janelle worked diligently to support me. I am recommending their services to anyone looking.
Greensboro Joseph - 11/19/2024
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