Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug screenings in Echo Lake, Washington. For those requiring hair or alcohol tests, we are experts in hair analysis and have testing sites across the country ready to conduct these tests. Typically, hair measuring between 1.5 to 2 inches on your head or body can be used. Hair samples allow for the detection of drugs, alcohol/ETG, and other specialized assessments.
In recent times, drug screening increasingly favors hair follicle tests. This method is now preferred by many employers, court systems, and substance abuse counselors instead of traditional urine tests. Hair follicle screenings are ideal for employers with strict no-drug policies, legal courts, and probation cases. Their main advantage is the extended detection period of drug use—up to 90 days. These tests rely on observed sample collection and are very hard to invalidate. However, for detecting drug use within the past 5 days, urine tests remain the most precise.
* 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 increasingly recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When sampled close to the scalp, hair can offer up to nearly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. It's easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to ship.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in diameter to a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides about 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. In the context of head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug test result laboratory process involves four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step of integrating a sample into a lab’s system. This step confirms the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening conducts a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be accepted in court. Any samples with a presumptively positive screen necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample registers as presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is retrieved from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from the hair at a much lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex technique to execute.
Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as needed. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand itself and not the follicle under the scalp
When comparing hair follicle tests to traditional urine tests in Echo Lake, WA, the advantages become clear. Hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and reliability. With a longer detection window, hair tests unveil substance use over months rather than days, making them a more comprehensive option for employers who require detailed drug history.
Hair follicle testing is favored in Echo Lake, WA for its extended detection window. This method can reveal substance use for up to 90 days, in contrast to the brief period detectable by urine tests. This extended window offers employers a thorough overview of a potential or current employee’s substance profile, assisting in maintaining a drug-free workplace.
Hair follicle testing in Echo Lake, WA, is recognized for its tamper-resistant nature. The test significantly decreases the likelihood of sample tampering. Since hair samples are collected in a monitored environment and are almost immune to adulteration, they produce results that employers and courts can trust implicitly.
In Echo Lake, WA, the convenience of having nationwide testing centers cannot be overstated. With locations spanning various regions, accessing hair follicle testing services is straightforward and hassle-free. This wide network ensures quick and accessible testing, accommodating both individual and employer needs efficiently.
The process for hair follicle testing in Echo Lake, WA, is both simple and confidential. Ordering the test, taking the sample, and receiving the results is designed to be straightforward and secure. This ease of use and assurance of privacy address common concerns and streamline the testing experience for all involved parties.
Offering affordable pricing and a fast turnaround, hair follicle testing in Echo Lake, WA represents excellent value. Competitive pricing structures cater to organizations of all sizes, while prompt result delivery enhances peace of mind, ensuring businesses remain informed and compliant with their drug testing policies.
In Echo Lake, WA, hair follicle drug testing is celebrated for delivering fast, precise, and reliable results. This type of screening accurately detects drug use with impressive speed. The method is highly accurate, minimizing false negatives or positives, ensuring that results are both trusted and timely for professionals and individuals alike.
For Echo Lake, WA employers, hair follicle testing provides compliance and peace of mind. By supporting drug-free workplace policies, these tests minimize legal risks and promote safety. The dependable results help businesses adhere to regulations and reduce liabilities associated with employee drug use.