Accredited Drug Testing offers extensive hair follicle drug testing in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. For individuals in need of a hair drug or alcohol test, we excel in hair testing, with centers in all major cities across the nation that can perform these tests. A minimum of 1.5 to 2 inches of hair on the head or body is usually required. Hair tests provide analysis for drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other specified testing options.
Recently, the preference for drug testing has shifted to favor hair follicle tests over traditional methods. Employers, judicial systems, and substance abuse experts often opt for these over urine tests. Hair follicle drug tests are utilized by companies with stringent drug-free policies, legal entities, and individuals under probation. The main advantage lies in its extended detection window for substance use, reaching up to 90 days, gathered under supervision, making deception nearly impossible. However, urine tests remain the most precise for detecting recent substance use within five 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 testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended historical view of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the developing hair strand's fibers. When taken from near the scalp, it can detect alcohol and other drugs for an approximate period of 3 months. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches comprising about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent body hair amount may be gathered. Head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair; body hair includes all other types (beard, axillary, and so on).
Process Overview
The primary stages in processing a drug test result in a laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning starts with the sample's entry into a laboratory’s system. This step ensures that the sample is sealed and transported properly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes remaining data entry tasks not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial assessment for substances of abuse. Though Screening is cost-efficient for negating drug use in most cases, a positive screen requires verification to be court admissible. Any samples with a presumptive positive result during Screening need further confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive outcome in Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screen is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptive positive result are cleaned prior to confirmation, if necessary. The comprehensive process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair authentication and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the testing focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle under the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Gatlinburg, TN
Extended Detection Window in Gatlinburg, TN
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Gatlinburg, TN
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Gatlinburg, TN
Simple, Confidential Process in Gatlinburg, TN
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Gatlinburg, TN
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Gatlinburg, TN
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Gatlinburg, TN