Accredited Drug Testing provides thorough hair follicle drug analysis in Potomac Mills, Virginia. Specializing in hair tests, our nationwide locations offer comprehensive options for detecting drugs, alcohol, or customized needs. Hair samples, ideally 1.5 to 2 inches long from the scalp or body, are frequently utilized to ensure accurate results.
Recently, hair follicle drug testing has become a preferred method. Many employers, courts, and substance abuse experts now opt for hair tests over traditional urine tests. Employers with strict no-drug policies, judicial systems, and probation programs value hair tests for its broader detection window, up to 90 days, improving reliability and reducing chances of tampering. Though for detecting recent drug use (within 5 days), urine tests remain unparalleled.
* 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 identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended record of alcohol and other drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands' fibers as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a roughly three-month detection window for alcohol and other substances. Collection is straightforward, it's somewhat resistant to tampering, and easily portable.
A 1.5-inch section comprising approximately 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and verification. For EtG, additions, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advocate for weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four primary steps in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the preliminary handling of a sample within a laboratory's system. This step involves confirming that the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any further data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use on most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in legal settings. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening require an additional confirmation.
Should a sample test presumptively positive in the screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and processed for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are drawn from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate method to execute.
A positive screening result is verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo cleaning prior to confirmation if needed. The entire lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and the accreditation in line with ISO / IEC 17025 requirements.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Frequently mistaken as "hair follicle tests", the procedure itself analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Potomac Mills, VA undeniably outperforms traditional urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy. While urine tests are limited to short-term detection, hair testing captures a longer history of substance use, offering extensive insights into an individual's habits.
Compared to urine tests, hair follicle testing provides a reliable, long-term detection window, ensuring more comprehensive and accurate reports that employers, courts, and healthcare providers can trust.
Potomac Mills, VA, benefits from hair follicle drug testing's extended detection window, capturing up to 90 days of substance use. This long-term view allows employers to have a deeper understanding of an individual’s history, surpassing the limitations of short-term testing methods.
This extensive detection period provides assurance to employers that they have a thorough account of potential drug use, thereby improving decision-making processes in the workplace.
In Potomac Mills, VA, hair follicle tests are renowned for their tamper-resistant nature. The difficulty in adulterating hair samples makes these tests a reliable solution, ensuring the integrity of the results. This decreases the likelihood of manipulation compared to other testing methods.
By significantly reducing the risk of sample tampering, hair tests give employers and agencies the confidence they need in the test's authenticity.
Residents of Potomac Mills, VA, enjoy convenient access to our nationwide network of testing centers. These locations ensure swift and hassle-free drug testing, providing flexibility for both individuals and organizations.
Our widespread testing network allows clients to easily find nearby facilities, ensuring they do not need to travel far for their testing needs.
The process of hair follicle testing in Potomac Mills, VA is simple and confidential. From ordering the test, to sample collection, and receiving results, privacy and convenience are prioritized. Clients can be assured of the discreet handling of their information.
This straightforward and secure approach addresses any privacy concerns, offering peace of mind to those undergoing testing.
Accredited Drug Testing in Potomac Mills, VA offers affordable pricing with quick turnaround times, providing excellent value. Our competitive rates ensure businesses of all sizes can access high-quality testing services without incurring excessive costs.
Fast results and cost-effective solutions empower companies to maintain their drug-free policies without breaking the bank.
In Potomac Mills, VA, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their fast and accurate results. With precision detection, these tests ensure reliable outcomes that are hard to refute. The efficiency in providing substantial data about substance use makes hair testing a preferred choice for many organizations aiming for high accuracy.
The high precision of hair follicle testing ensures that results are delivered swiftly, simplifying the decision-making process for employers and legal entities.
Implementing hair follicle testing in Potomac Mills, VA ensures compliance with drug-free policies, providing peace of mind to employers. By minimizing legal risks and promoting safety, these tests align with workplace regulations, bolstering a secure and efficient environment.
Hair testing supports employers' efforts to maintain compliance, reducing liabilities and enhancing overall workplace integrity.