Accredited Drug Testing provides thorough hair follicle drug testing services in Westover, West Virginia. For those requiring a hair-based drug or alcohol analysis, we are the specialists in this field, with a presence in every city nationwide to handle hair testing. Typically, a length of 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the scalp or body can be used for analysis in most scenarios. These tests can check for drugs, alcohol/ETG, or other tailored testing needs.
In recent times, the inclination to use a hair follicle drug test has grown. This testing approach is being preferred by employers, courts, and substance abuse experts over traditional urine tests. Hair tests are ideal for companies with strict no-drug policies, legal systems, and those on probation. Their key advantage lies in the longer detection period, spanning up to 90 days, with observed collection that is nearly immune to tampering. Despite this, urine tests remain more precise for substance use within the preceding 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 widely regarded as a highly effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers a comprehensive timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can provide an approximate 3-month detection period for substances. Hair is easy to collect, fairly resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
The optimal sample for screening and confirmation is a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yielding about 100mg of hair. For tests including EtG, add-ons, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg hair sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for precision. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable volume of body hair can be taken. Specifically, head hair refers solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types like facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The four core stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the lab's system. This step includes verifying that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any supplementary data entry if not already done via an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary fast check for the presence of drugs. Although Screening is a cost-effective method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be validated for legal admissibility. Samples that show a presumptive positive during Screening require an additional confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. This involves retrieving drugs from hair at much lower concentrations than methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug screening a particularly challenging process.
Confirmation of any positive screen is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positives undergo a washing process if needed. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, complies with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand itself, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing, especially in Westover, WV, proves superior to urine tests by providing a greater detection window and reducing the risk of evasion. While urine tests only detect recent use, hair tests offer a sizable advantage by capturing long-term substance use, ensuring a more comprehensive picture.
The heightened accuracy of hair testing over urinalysis results in more reliable data, helping authorities and employers enforce no-drug policies effectively, thereby ensuring workplace safety and productivity.
The extended detection window of hair follicle tests, which can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior, is a salient feature that sets it apart in Westover, WV. This allows employers to achieve a holistic view of an individual’s substance behavior, far beyond what urine tests can provide.
This comprehensive history aids employers in making informed decisions, crafting policies based on detailed insights into an employee's or candidate's long-term drug use patterns.
In Westover, WV, hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant alternative to traditional drug testing methods. This dramatically reduces the risks associated with sample adulteration, ensuring the integrity of the test results.
The robustness of hair tests provides reliable, unquestionable outcomes, helping employers and legal authorities trust the validity of the collected data and make informed decisions.
Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy access to hair follicle testing through our nationwide network of centers, including local sites in Westover, WV. This ensures a quick, hassle-free testing experience for all users.
Convenience is key, as our multitude of locations facilitates prompt and efficient testing, accommodating the needs of businesses and individuals across the nation.
In Westover, WV, our process for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential, prioritizing the privacy and concerns of our clients. Ordering, taking the test, and receiving results is streamlined to ensure ease of use.
The confidential nature of the procedure means individuals can trust that their personal data is handled with the utmost care and security, thereby safeguarding privacy at every step.
Offering affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times, our hair follicle testing in Westover, WV, is designed to provide value and assurance for companies of every size. Our pricing structure ensures that quality testing is accessible to all.
Fast turnaround of results means reduced wait times, leading to efficient decision-making and effective enforcement of drug policies, guaranteeing peace of mind at a competitive cost.
In Westover, WV, hair follicle drug tests are prized for their fast and accurate results, becoming the preferred choice for those requiring high precision in substance detection. This testing method offers unparalleled accuracy, quickly identifying drug use, ensuring employers and authorities can rely on the results.
Hair tests stand out for their quick processing times, providing results in a manner that supports timely decision-making. This speed and reliability make hair testing a valuable tool in maintaining a drug-free environment.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Westover, WV offers employers peace of mind and compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This helps minimize legal risks and enhances the safety of the work environment.
Employers can rely on the accuracy of hair testing to uphold their zero-tolerance policies, ensuring a safer, more productive workplace, free from the influence of substance abuse.
