Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Columbia, SD

Employment, DOT, Court Ordered, Personal
Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG

10 Hair Drug Testing Centers in Columbia

Minutes Away, Test Today

3015 3rd Ave Se12.45 miles

3015 3rd Ave Se
Aberdeen, SD 57401

815 1st Ave Se Ste 10413.18 miles

815 1st Ave Se Ste 104
Aberdeen, SD 57401

201 S Lloyd St Ste W12013.26 miles

201 S Lloyd St Ste W120
Aberdeen, SD 57401

370 N 3rd St20.51 miles

370 N 3rd St
Stratford, SD 57474

240 Main St28.61 miles

240 Main St
Ellendale, ND 58436

415 9th St29.70 miles

415 9th St
Britton, SD 57430

501 Bloemendaal Dr36.88 miles

501 Bloemendaal Dr
Ipswich, SD 57451

420 S 7th St37.48 miles

420 S 7th St
Oakes, ND 58474

1200 N 7th St38.17 miles

1200 N 7th St
Oakes, ND 58474

610 Main St43.04 miles

610 Main St
Webster, SD 57274

Employment, Court Ordered, Probation, Family

Accredited Drug Testing offers a comprehensive hair follicle drug screening service in Columbia, South Dakota. If you're in need of a hair-based drug or alcohol test, Accredited Drug Testing excels in hair assessments, providing testing centers in every city across the nation. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair are required from the scalp, or alternatively from the body, for most evaluations. Hair tests can assess drugs, alcohol/ETG or be customized for other options.

Recently, the use of hair follicle drug tests has become more prevalent in drug screening procedures. Employers, judicial entities, and Substance Abuse experts are favoring hair drug tests over the traditional urine tests. Hair follicle tests are favored by zero-tolerance workplace policies, courts, and probation officers. The key advantage is the extended detection window of up to 90 days, collected under supervision, making it nearly cheat-proof. Nonetheless, urine tests remain the most precise for detecting recent drug use within a 5-day period.

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol intake. It provides a comprehensive record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands. A sample collected near the scalp can reflect substance use for up to three months. Hair samples are straightforward to gather, difficult to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A suggested 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil), taken closest to the scalp, yields about 100mg of hair, an optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG purposes, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. It is advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, it refers specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The essential steps in lab processing for drug testing results are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves setting up a sample in a lab’s system, confirming proper sealing and shipping, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of misuse. While it is a cost-friendly approach for dismissing drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires verification to be legally valid. Samples that test positive in Screening must undergo further confirmation.

For samples preliminarily positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is prepared from the original specimen for Extraction. In this phase, substances are retrieved from hair at a significantly lower level than other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis a challenging method to administer.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Pros of hair drug testing:

  • Extended detection period: Hair drug screens identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection period.
  • Immunity to tampering: Hair drug testing is difficult to circumvent, thus ensuring more reliable results.
  • Tracks historical use: Provides a consumption pattern over time, not just recent intake.

Challenges:

  • Incapable of detecting recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
  • Expenditure: Generally, hair drug testing costs more than other testing approaches.
  • Result variability: Hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle within the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Columbia, SD, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests due to its superior accuracy and reliability. These tests detect drug use over a longer period, providing more detailed insights into an individual's substance use history. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing is almost impossible to tamper with, ensuring the integrity of the results and offering peace of mind to employers who prioritize a drug-free workplace.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Columbia, SD, benefit from the extended detection period of hair follicle testing, which can reveal drug use up to 90 days back. This gives organizations a more comprehensive view of an applicant or employee's drug history, aiding in informed decision-making. Compared to other testing methods, this extended window helps in identifying habitual patterns rather than temporary lapses, thus enhancing workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Columbia, SD, offer a robust tamper-resistant approach to drug testing. The nature of hair samples significantly reduces the chance of adulteration, providing results that can be fully trusted. This ensures that tests are not compromised, facilitating reliable decisions based on authentic evidence, a crucial factor for workplaces maintaining stringent drug policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous nationwide testing centers, Accredited Drug Testing offers unrivaled convenience in Columbia, SD. Our local facilities ensure swift and efficient access to drug testing services, minimizing downtime and hassle for both individuals and businesses. This easy access is crucial for maintaining continuity in compliance and policy adherence without compromise.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Columbia, SD, the process of ordering a hair follicle drug test is simple and confidential. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that privacy is maintained throughout the testing procedure, from sample collection to result retrieval. This user-centric approach alleviates concerns regarding personal data security while making the overall process smooth and user-friendly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Columbia, SD, stands out with its competitive pricing and fast turnaround times. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from the excellent value afforded by our cost-effective services. The quick processing of results ensures that hiring and employment decisions are not delayed, streamlining organizational operations and enhancing productivity.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug tests in Columbia, SD, are known for their swift and precise assessments. The high accuracy ensures that substance use is detected reliably, providing stakeholders with confidence in the results. The advanced technology involved in these tests means results are delivered quickly, aiding in timely decision-making for employers and other entities requiring drug screenings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Columbia, SD, assures employers of compliance with drug-free workplace policies. The accuracy and reliability reduce legal risks associated with drug policy violations, while contributing to a safer work environment. This testing method offers peace of mind, knowing that the employed workforce aligns with sobriety standards and legal compliance.

What's New In Hair Follicle Drug Testing according to the Hair Drug Testing Experts

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.


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Frequently Asked Questions

A hair follicle drug test analyzes a small sample of hair to detect a history of drug use over time. Because drug metabolites are incorporated into hair as it grows, this method can show patterns of use instead of just recent exposure. It is frequently used for legal and court requirements, long-term monitoring, and high-trust workforce screening.
Standard hair drug testing typically reflects drug use over approximately a 90-day period, based on the length of hair collected at the time of testing. Longer hair can sometimes reflect a longer time frame, and extremely short hair can reduce that window.
Hair drug testing commonly screens for marijuana/THC, cocaine, opiates/opioids, amphetamines/methamphetamines, and PCP. In many cases, additional expanded panels may be requested to include other substances.
Yes. If the donor's head hair is too short or unavailable, body hair may be collected as an alternative. The collector will document the source of the sample. This allows testing even for individuals with recently cut or shaved head hair.
Yes. Hair drug testing is commonly used in court, probation, custody, and compliance matters because the collection process follows a documented chain of custody and the analysis is performed by a certified laboratory. Results are provided in a form that can be reviewed by legal and administrative authorities.
Yes. Individuals, parents, attorneys, employers, and probation programs can all request hair drug testing. A doctor's order is not required. Results are confidential and released only to the authorized requesting party.
Hair testing provides a longer look-back period than urine testing, making it useful when you need to demonstrate ongoing abstinence or identify repeated/recent substance use patterns over time rather than just recent exposure. It is frequently selected for legal, compliance, and custody-related documentation.
A small section of hair is cut by a trained collector in a discreet, controlled manner. The sample is sealed, documented, and sent to the laboratory under established chain-of-custody procedures so that the results can be defended if they are ever challenged.

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