Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug screening in Southern Gateway, VA. If you're in need of a drug or alcohol hair analysis, our expertise in hair testing stretches across testing centers nationwide. A sample of 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from your head or body is generally required. Hair tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, and offer other specialized testing options.
Recently, hair follicle testing has become a preferred method for drug screening. Employers, legal systems, and substance abuse specialists increasingly choose it over traditional urine tests. This method is favored by employers with strict no-drug policies, courts, and probationary cases. Hair follicle tests offer an extended drug detection window of up to 90 days, involve supervised sample collection, and are highly tamper-resistant. However, for detecting recent drug use within five days, urine testing remains the most reliable option.
* 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 a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a comprehensive history of these substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands. When sampled near the scalp, it can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. This method is straightforward to collect, resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
An ideal specimen for screening and confirmation is a 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yielding approximately 100mg of hair. For EtG tests, add-ons, and panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is preferred. It is advisable to weigh the hair using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, a comparable amount of body hair can be gathered. When referring to head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a specimen in a laboratory system, which includes confirming proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entries outside of an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial, cost-efficient check for drugs of abuse, allowing for the exclusion of drug usage in most samples. However, positive results from the Screening phase must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
Samples with positive presumptive results proceed to the Extraction phase, where additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepared. Drug extraction from hair is conducted at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug testing.
Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All presumptive positive specimens are cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Southern Gateway, VA, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy. Its ability to trace substance use over an extended duration makes it a favored choice. With high reliability, hair testing ensures accurate results, which are crucial for maintaining safety and compliance in various sectors.
One of the significant advantages of hair follicle testing in Southern Gateway, VA is its extensive detection window, reaching up to 90 days. This gives employers a full view of a person's substance use history over time, offering a comprehensive profile that can inform decisions more effectively compared to shorter-term tests.
Hair follicle testing in Southern Gateway, VA significantly minimizes the chances of sample tampering. The test's robust and secure methodology ensures that results remain trustworthy and valid, making it nearly impossible for individuals to manipulate their results through conventional means of sample adulteration.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenience with numerous testing locations across the nation, including Southern Gateway, VA. This ensures easy access to fast and efficient drug testing services. Clients in any city can quickly locate a center close by, thus streamlining the whole process for individuals and companies.
In Southern Gateway, VA, the drug testing process through our services remains straightforward and private. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, each step is designed to respect confidentiality. This approach keeps the user informed and secure, addressing any privacy concerns efficiently.
Southern Gateway, VA residents and businesses benefit from our affordable pricing and swift turnaround times. This competitive pricing model ensures excellent value for money, catering to organizations of all sizes aiming to maintain compliance without a significant financial burden.
The hair follicle drug testing method stands out in Southern Gateway, VA for its incredible accuracy and speed. It pinpoints substance use with unmatched precision, providing results that employers and individuals can trust. This reliable process ensures that detection is thorough and swift, thereby bolstering confidence in the results provided.
Employers in Southern Gateway, VA find peace of mind with hair follicle testing due to its ability to ensure compliance with drug-free workplace initiatives. This testing method not only reduces legal risks but also enhances safety protocols, creating a more secure and productive work environment for all employees.
