Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cary, NC

Employment, DOT, Court Ordered, Personal
Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG

30 Hair Drug Testing Centers in Cary

Minutes Away, Test Today

1110 Kildaire Farm Rd1.52 miles

1110 Kildaire Farm Rd
Cary, NC 27511

101 Maynard Crossing Ct1.69 miles

101 Maynard Crossing Ct
Cary, NC 27513

103 Baines Court,2.38 miles

103 Baines Court,
Cary, NC 27511

1515 Sw Cary Pkwy Ste 1202.97 miles

1515 Sw Cary Pkwy Ste 120
Cary, NC 27511

212 Ashville Ave Ste 103.57 miles

212 Ashville Ave Ste 10
Cary, NC 27518

111 Advent Ct Ste 1503.70 miles

111 Advent Ct Ste 150
Cary, NC 27518

100 Cornerstone Dr3.89 miles

100 Cornerstone Dr
Cary, NC 27519

2406 Blue Ridge Rd Ste 1904.50 miles

2406 Blue Ridge Rd Ste 190
Raleigh, NC 27607

3850 Ed Drive, Suite 1254.98 miles

3850 Ed Drive, Suite 125
Raleigh, NC 27612

1021 W Williams St Ste 1026.05 miles

1021 W Williams St Ste 102
Apex, NC 27502

3420 Ten Ten Rd Ste 3186.15 miles

3420 Ten Ten Rd Ste 318
Cary, NC 27518

6010 Glenwood Avenue6.30 miles

6010 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27612

4104 Surles Ct Ste 116.55 miles

4104 Surles Ct Ste 11
Durham, NC 27703

2021 Creekside Landing Dr Ste 1106.60 miles

2021 Creekside Landing Dr Ste 110
Apex, NC 27502

3721 Lynn Rd6.79 miles

3721 Lynn Rd
Raleigh, NC 27613

1005 Slater Rd Ste 1016.85 miles

1005 Slater Rd Ste 101
Durham, NC 27703

2731b Capital Blvd7.75 miles

2731b Capital Blvd
Raleigh, NC 27604

6500 Creedmoor Rd8.00 miles

6500 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27613

131 S Wilmington St8.31 miles

131 S Wilmington St
Raleigh, NC 27601

7841 Alexander Promenade Pl Ste 1208.45 miles

7841 Alexander Promenade Pl Ste 120
Raleigh, NC 27617

3820 Merton Dr Ste 2018.68 miles

3820 Merton Dr Ste 201
Raleigh, NC 27609

5942c Six Forks Rd8.69 miles

5942c Six Forks Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609

4009 Barrett Dr Ste 1048.83 miles

4009 Barrett Dr Ste 104
Raleigh, NC 27609

112 Donmoor Ct9.04 miles

112 Donmoor Ct
Garner, NC 27529

5650 Six Forks Rd Ste 2029.30 miles

5650 Six Forks Rd Ste 202
Raleigh, NC 27609

104 Bass Lake Road, Suite 1009.79 miles

104 Bass Lake Road, Suite 100
Holly Springs, NC 27540

2945 South Miami Blvd #1329.82 miles

2945 South Miami Blvd #132
Durham, NC 27703

4020 Wake Forest Rd Ste 2149.84 miles

4020 Wake Forest Rd Ste 214
Raleigh, NC 27609

104 Bass Lake Rd9.87 miles

104 Bass Lake Rd
Holly Springs, NC 27540

4100 Wake Forest Rd9.88 miles

4100 Wake Forest Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609

Employment, Court Ordered, Probation, Family

Based in Cary, North Carolina, Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle drug testing. Whether it's for drugs or alcohol, our specialized hair testing services are available in locations across all cities nationwide. Typically, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from the crown of your head or body can be used. These tests can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, or be tailored for other specific substances.

The popularity of hair follicle drug tests has risen among methods utilized for drug testing. A growing number of employers, courts, and Substance Abuse professionals now demand a hair drug test rather than standard urine testing. Hair follicle tests are preferred by companies with zero-tolerance drug policies and for individuals on probation. Their advantage includes an extended detection time, up to 90 days, collected through an observed process, and are almost immune to tampering. However, for detecting recent drug use within the past 5 days, urine tests remain the most accurate.

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It provides a comprehensive history by embedding biomarkers in the fibers as the hair grows. When samples are collected near the scalp, they can reveal alcohol and drug traces for up to about a 3-month period. Hair is easy to gather, not easily tampered with, and convenient to transport.

For screening and verification, a 1.5-inch section with around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) next to the scalp is required to obtain 100mg, which is the preferred quantity. For EtG, supplementary checks, and/or analyses above 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler's scale to measure the specimen is advisable. If head hair is unattainable, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. When discussing head hair, it strictly refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types such as facial and axillary.

Process Overview

The testing procedure in a laboratory consists of four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the phase where a sample is first processed into the lab's system. This phase includes checking that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening acts as an initial evaluation for substances of abuse. While it serves as an economical strategy to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples indicating prescriptive positive results during Screening need verification.

When screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from the hair at a significantly lower concentration relative to other forms like urine or oral fluid, posing a higher complexity in hair drug tests.

Drug screen results that indicate a positive outcome are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples go through a washing stage before confirmation as needed. The complete lab workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is monitored under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 certification standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

  • Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drugs for up to 90 days, while urine tests cover a shorter duration.
  • Resilience to tampering: Altering a hair drug test is notably difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
  • Offers chronological use data: It depicts a history of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

  • Limited recent use detection: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
  • Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to other testing forms.
  • Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentration.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests," the procedure examines the hair shaft and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Cary, NC, the advantages are clear. Hair tests offer a longer detection window, ensuring past drug use is identified more effectively, whereas urine tests are limited to more recent consumption. Its superior accuracy and reliability make hair testing a preferred choice for companies needing thorough screening procedures.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Cary, NC, provides an extensive detection window of up to 90 days, far exceeding the timeframe offered by most other testing methods. This prolonged period enables employers to garner a detailed history of an individual’s substance use, aiding in the comprehensive evaluation of their suitability for roles within the organization.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Cary, NC, the hair follicle testing method serves as a robust deterrent against tampering or adulteration. Because the hair specimen reflects drug use over a longer time, it virtually eliminates the possibility of sample manipulation, thereby ensuring the results remain trustworthy and difficult to compromise.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenience with its widespread presence across the country, including local centers in Cary, NC. Clients can access testing services swiftly and without hassle, ensuring a streamlined process for those seeking or required to undergo testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Cary, NC, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. From the initial order through the testing to the receipt of the results, each step is designed to protect clients’ privacy while providing an easy-to-navigate experience that addresses concerns about confidentiality and accessibility.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing in Cary, NC, ensures that businesses of all sizes receive excellent value. The balance of affordability with high-quality, swift service provides peace of mind for organizations aiming to maintain their drug testing programs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug testing in Cary, NC, are unmatched. These tests are designed to provide highly accurate readings of substance use, ensuring that any records of drugs or alcohol consumption are detected swiftly and reliably. With a commitment to delivering fast results, individuals and employers can rely on these tests for timely information when it matters most.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Cary, NC, helps employers adhere to drug-free workplace policies efficiently. This method reduces the possibility of legal infractions and fosters a safer working environment. Companies can rest assured that their compliance efforts contribute to the wellbeing of their workforce.

What's New In Hair Follicle Drug Testing according to the Hair Drug Testing Experts

With its multidisciplinary nature, hair testing brings together researchers, scientists, and experts from various domains to develop innovative techniques, explore new methodologies, and address emerging concerns, responding to the ever-evolving challenges of drug abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, and environmental exposures to pollutants.

The joint meeting of the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) and the Italian Group of Forensic Toxicologists (GTFI) was organized in Verona, June 8–10, 2022, and hosted by the Legal Medicine team of the Verona University Hospital, directed by Franco Tagliaro together with Federica Bortolotti and Rossella Gottardo.

It served as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, facilitating groundbreaking advancements in hair testing and analysis. In this special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, we aim to showcase the remarkable manuscripts presented at this significant event, shedding light on the latest research and highlighting the future directions in this field.

Novel Analytical Techniques: The Verona meeting witnessed the unveiling of cutting-edge analytical techniques, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy for drug testing. Remarkable advancements in sample preparation, detection, and identification of drug compounds have been presented. The manuscripts in this section presented novel approaches, such as multianalyte methods and on-line preparation which can enable rapid analysis and improve thorough forensic investigations.

Biomarkers and Pharmacokinetics: The identification and validation of reliable biomarkers and pharmacokinetic studies are fundamental aspects of drug testing and analysis. The impact of hair treatments on the oxidation/decomposition of drugs in hair was also explored, as the long-term fate of drugs incorporated in the keratin matrix. Furthermore, the SoHT meeting in Verona featured research on the identification and quantification of alcohol abuse biomarkers, their stability, and their correlation with exposure and other biomarkers.

Forensic Applications and Interpretation: One of the vital objectives of hair testing is its application in forensic investigations and legal proceedings. The SoHT meeting in Verona emphasized the significance of rigorous interpretation of analytical results and the need for standardized protocols. Manuscripts in this section present advancements in forensic toxicology, and have explored the challenges posed by emerging designer drugs and strategies to combat their proliferation. The pitfalls encountered when the exogenous/endogenous nature of a substance is questioned were presented and discussed. The special issue presents also manuscripts that delve into the ethical implications of drug testing in drug facilitated sexual assaults.

Clinical Applications of hair testing are witnessed by the insight on environmental tobacco smoke exposure, assessed by hair analysis in a population of students and the study of in utero-exposure to drugs of abuse through neonatal hair analysis. Exposure to drugs was also important in cases of child abuse/neglect, when the clinical purpose of hair testing merge with its forensic applications.

The legal framework surrounding hair testing and the achievement of guidelines to ensure fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality in drug testing practices have also been discussed,and the SoHT consensus on general hair testing and testing for drugs of abuse was presented at the meeting and published as a Letter to the Editor.

In conclusion, the special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, featuring manuscripts from the SoHT–GTFI meeting in Verona 2022, reflects the remarkable advancements achieved in this field. The manuscripts provide valuable insights into novel analytical techniques, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, forensic applications, and ethical considerations. As we embrace these advancements, we pave the way for a safer, healthier society, where drug testing and analysis serve as powerful tools in protecting public health and maintaining integrity in various sectors. The research presented in this special issue will undoubtedly shape the future of drug testing and analysis, fostering collaboration and inspiring further innovation in this crucial area of scientific inquiry.


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Frequently Asked Questions

A hair follicle drug test analyzes a small sample of hair to detect a history of drug use over time. Because drug metabolites are incorporated into hair as it grows, this method can show patterns of use instead of just recent exposure. It is frequently used for legal and court requirements, long-term monitoring, and high-trust workforce screening.
Standard hair drug testing typically reflects drug use over approximately a 90-day period, based on the length of hair collected at the time of testing. Longer hair can sometimes reflect a longer time frame, and extremely short hair can reduce that window.
Hair drug testing commonly screens for marijuana/THC, cocaine, opiates/opioids, amphetamines/methamphetamines, and PCP. In many cases, additional expanded panels may be requested to include other substances.
Yes. If the donor's head hair is too short or unavailable, body hair may be collected as an alternative. The collector will document the source of the sample. This allows testing even for individuals with recently cut or shaved head hair.
Yes. Hair drug testing is commonly used in court, probation, custody, and compliance matters because the collection process follows a documented chain of custody and the analysis is performed by a certified laboratory. Results are provided in a form that can be reviewed by legal and administrative authorities.
Yes. Individuals, parents, attorneys, employers, and probation programs can all request hair drug testing. A doctor's order is not required. Results are confidential and released only to the authorized requesting party.
Hair testing provides a longer look-back period than urine testing, making it useful when you need to demonstrate ongoing abstinence or identify repeated/recent substance use patterns over time rather than just recent exposure. It is frequently selected for legal, compliance, and custody-related documentation.
A small section of hair is cut by a trained collector in a discreet, controlled manner. The sample is sealed, documented, and sent to the laboratory under established chain-of-custody procedures so that the results can be defended if they are ever challenged.

Customer Reviews

Thank You!!

I needed a quick drug test for visitation with my children. I called at 6am they answered and set me up with a place a couple miles from my house to go get the test done, that was on Wednesday, I had the results on Friday afternoon and was able to see my kids on Saturday. Thank you for the help!

Mark Broadhead - 2/12/2025

Very Fun and Easy

Trish last week and Tatiana this week, very fun and easy folks to deal with. Well be using them more and more in the future.

Tom O - 12/19/2024

Very professional and very quick

Very professional and very quick service to schedule appointments! I am pleased with the services and would definitely recommend using them for any drug testing needs!

Carrie Feerick - 4/19/2025


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