Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services in Bristol, Virginia. If a hair drug or alcohol test is needed, Accredited Drug Testing is a specialist in hair testing, with centers available in all cities nationwide that can conduct a hair test. Typically, having 1.5 to 2 inches of hair on the crown or body suffices. Hair tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other specific testing needs.
Recently, the inclusion of hair follicle drug testing in drug screening processes has increased. Many employers, courts, and substance abuse professionals now prefer hair drug tests over standard urine tests. Hair follicle tests are favored by employers with strict anti-drug policies, courts, and individuals on probation. A key advantage of hair follicle testing is its extended detection period of up to 90 days. It involves an observed collection, making it difficult to cheat. However, urine tests remain the most accurate for detecting recent drug use within the past 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 testing is regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of substances by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, it can offer up to a 3-month detection span for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient for shipping.
A specimen of 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp yields 100mg, which is an optimal amount for screening and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a recommendation of 150mg is made. It is advised to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. The term head hair specifically denotes scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test outcome consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is integrated into a laboratory system. This stage involves ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary review for the presence of drugs. While it is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug presence in most samples, court admissibility requires confirming a positive result through further analysis. A positive outcome in Screening necessitates subsequent confirmation.
Presumptively positive samples during Screening require additional hair from the original specimen for Extraction, where substances are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive specimens undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests in Bristol, VA. Its ability to detect a wide range of substances makes it ideal for workplace settings where drug use must be monitored closely. The results from hair tests are more reliable and less susceptible to tampering, ensuring zero-tolerance policies are effectively enforced.
Compared to urine tests, hair testing provides a more comprehensive picture of an individual’s drug use, covering a more extended range of drugs and showing usage patterns over time. Employers benefit from the ability to make informed decisions based on these detailed results, which are achieved through a secure and tamper-resistant process.
One of the most significant advantages of hair follicle testing in Bristol, VA, is its extended detection window. Unlike urine tests, which cover a short period, hair tests can track drug usage up to 90 days, offering a thorough history of substance consumption.
This extended window provides employers with vital insights into an individual's past behavior, essential for roles that demand a stringent drug-free environment. By capturing substance use over months, hair testing offers a robust solution for assessing risk and ensuring compliance.
Hair follicle testing in Bristol, VA, is renowned for its resistance to tampering. Sample adulteration is a minimal risk due to the nature of hair collection and analysis. This provides a reliable and unquestionable basis for understanding an individual's substance history.
The integrity of hair testing ensures that results are unaltered and truthful. This robustness helps maintain high standards in environments that require strict monitoring, reducing the chances of deceptive practices that can undermine testing processes.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide testing locations, including sites in Bristol, VA, making access to hair testing services seamless and straightforward. This extensive network ensures that individuals and businesses can quickly schedule tests without logistical hurdles.
Local and nationwide availability guarantees that clients can find a nearby center, simplifying the process and enabling hassle-free compliance with testing requirements. With our nationwide presence, obtaining a hair test becomes more accessible than ever.
In Bristol, VA, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use. From ordering the test to receiving results, each step is designed for user convenience.
This straightforward process involves discreet sample collection and rapid results delivery, ensuring that individuals' privacy rights are respected while maintaining efficient service. As a result, clients can confidently engage in testing activities without unnecessary complications or concerns.
With competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Bristol, VA, offers excellent value. Accredited Drug Testing provides affordable options catering to companies of all sizes, ensuring cost-effectiveness.
The swift processing of hair tests allows results to be delivered quickly, meeting the demands of businesses that require prompt decisions. This combination of affordability and speed enhances the overall value, making reliable drug testing accessible to a broader audience.
In Bristol, VA, hair follicle drug testing is celebrated for its swift and precise outcomes. The method boasts high accuracy in detecting substance use, delivering results efficiently to meet fast-paced needs. Within a short time frame, results are obtained that are both detailed and reliable, ensuring individuals are accurately assessed.
The accuracy of hair tests minimizes the chances of false positives or negatives, thus providing actionable data that stakeholders can trust. Their rapid turnaround ensures that processes remain on track without delays, giving confidence to employers and other entities requiring such assessments.
For employers in Bristol, VA, hair follicle testing is synonymous with peace of mind and compliance assurance. By adopting this method, businesses ensure adherence to drug-free policies, mitigate legal risks, and promote a safe workplace environment.
Hair testing also reflects an organization's commitment to maintaining rigorous standards. It supports the establishment of trust and reliability within the workforce, reducing concerns about drug-related incidents by providing a clear assessment of employee compliance with substance regulations.
