In St. Andrews, South Carolina, Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services. Our expertise spans across the nation, providing specialized hair testing for drugs and alcohol with centers in every major city. Generally, a sample requires 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from either the scalp or the body. This method effectively analyzes substances such as drugs, alcohol, ETG, or other tailored testing options.
The preference for hair follicle testing over traditional drug testing methods has increased significantly. Employers, legal systems, and addiction recovery experts tend to choose hair tests over urine tests. This preference arises from the extended detection period—up to 90 days—offered by hair tests, along with the secure, observed collection process that makes cheating highly unlikely. However, urine tests remain the optimal choice for detecting drug use within the last 5 days.
* 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 analysis has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair strands preserve a comprehensive timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers in their fibers. When hair is taken from near the scalp, it can reveal alcohol and drug use for up to three months. It's straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and effortless to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is not available, an equal quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system, which includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any outstanding data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug use in the majority of samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation for it to be legally valid. Any samples that appear positive in Screening must undergo a further confirmation.
Should a sample be deemed positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Preparation. In this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other testing methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.
Validation of any positive screen result occurs using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples flagged as positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected following both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specifications and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle testing against urine tests in St. Andrews, SC, it's clear that hair tests provide superior detection accuracy. While urine tests can track recent drug use effectively, hair tests present a broader detection window, flagging substance use over several months. This enhanced detection capability makes hair testing a preferred choice among stakeholders who value a comprehensive understanding of substance history.
The reliability of hair follicle testing in pinpointing past drug use supersedes that of urine tests. Employers and agencies benefit from its extensive detection period, reducing the likelihood of a false negative. Hair testing proves particularly beneficial in zero-tolerance environments where past drug use may be indicative of future issues.
Hair follicle tests hold a distinctive advantage with their extended detection window in St. Andrews, SC. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior, these tests offer a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history. This extensive period surpasses traditional tests, providing employers with deeper insights into potential employees' long-term habits and reliability.
The ability to review an individual's substance usage over a prolonged timeframe means employers in St. Andrews can make more informed decisions. Whether it's hiring for sensitive positions or ongoing compliance checks, the scope of detection offered by hair follicle testing ensures a trustworthy overview, strengthening workplace safety and standards.
One of the strongest benefits of hair follicle drug tests in St. Andrews, SC is their tamper-resistant nature. This method drastically minimizes the risk of sample adulteration that is more prevalent in urine testing. By utilizing hair samples, the test resists various cheating methods, ensuring the results are authentic and dependable.
In a climate where accurate and reliable drug test results are paramount, especially for legal and employment purposes, the integrity of hair testing acts as a formidable safeguard. Employers and legal entities can trust that the results reflect the actual substance use history, uninfluenced by attempts to manipulate outcomes.
Accredited Drug Testing features convenient nationwide locations, including in St. Andrews, SC, ensuring accessible testing services for all. Our extensive network of centers means individuals and businesses can easily access testing without the hassle of travel, making the process seamless and time-efficient.
The efficiency of our service ensures testing is both quick and simple. With many local centers, the hassle of scheduling and attending tests is minimized, offering peace of mind to those needing prompt and reliable drug testing services.
In St. Andrews, SC, the process for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is straightforward, ensuring client privacy and ease of use throughout the procedure. This transparency alleviates concerns about confidentiality and complexity, building trust in the testing process.
With a focus on client privacy, each step is streamlined to respect individual confidentiality and promote user-friendliness. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that from start to finish, clients experience a seamless process, fostering confidence in the integrity and security of the testing journey.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround, our hair follicle testing services in St. Andrews, SC deliver excellent value. Companies of all sizes benefit from competitive pricing structures, ensuring cost-effectiveness without sacrificing quality or speed. Quick result delivery enhances this value, keeping employers informed and decisive.
The combination of economical costs and swift delivery leads to remarkable value, particularly for smaller businesses operating with tight budgets. The affordable nature of hair testing, paired with the trust it engenders through swift results, makes it a practical choice in the landscape of drug testing.
In St. Andrews, SC, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. Known for their high precision, these tests efficiently detect substance use. The advanced technology used in hair analysis ensures rapid turnaround while providing unequivocal results. This speed and accuracy make it an invaluable tool for employers and individuals seeking to ensure thorough substance detection.
When it comes to precision, hair tests stand out by identifying substances that might be missed by other methods. The detailed results offer a clear picture of an individual's substance intake over an extended period, giving stakeholders confidence in the results. This level of accuracy supports informed decision-making, protecting the integrity of workplace and legal frameworks.
For employers in St. Andrews, SC, hair follicle testing provides compliance and peace of mind. By aligning with workplace drug-free policies, these tests reduce legal risks and foster a safer work environment. The reliable detection period of hair tests ensures adherence to regulatory expectations, minimizing the chance of drug-related incidents.
Integrating hair follicle testing into workplace protocols enhances workplace safety and ensures continual compliance. Employers can efficiently manage substance use issues, reinforcing their commitment to employee safety and legal adherence, ultimately upholding the organization's reputation and operational integrity.
