Fingernail Drug Testing
With a fingernail test from Transmetron, we can detect a history of drug use that has occurred within the last few months. Our staff offers fingernail and toenail testing, which can be a thorough method of detecting drugs when done properly.
How Is a Fingernail Drug Test Similar to Hair Drug Testing?
Similar to hair follicle testing, fingernails and toenails provide detailed information and a history of drug use. Depending on the length of the nail, evidence can be gathered that shows all drug ingestion that has occurred within the last 6–8 months. Please call our fingernail testing lab to get more information on the different drugs that can be detected and how the time frames may vary as the technology for fingernail drug testing continues to advance.
How Fingernail Drug Testing Typically Works
Drug abuse has been detectable in nails since 1984, but the growing need for longer detection periods has brought fingernail drug testing into the spotlight. Similar to hair follicles, fingernails are made of keratin, a hard protein, and are tested using the same process as hair follicle testing. Drugs enter the nail from the bloodstream at the nail bed, becoming incorporated into the growing keratin as the nail develops. These substances remain locked in the nail, providing a reliable record of drug use over time.
Nail Tests Offered
We offer the following nail tests: 5 Panel, 10 Panel, 14 Panel, 16 Panel, 17 Panel, and 19 Panel. We also offer the following “add-on” or standalone tests: Diphenhydramine, High-Potency Opioids (HPOs), EtG (direct Ethanol Biomarker), Propofol Glucuronide, Kratom, Gabapentin, and Cotinine (nicotine metabolite).
Detection Window for Nail Tests
We are often asked, “How far back does a nail test go?” – meaning “What is the Detection Window for nail tests?”
- Finger Nail Sample = Up to 6 months
- Toe Nail Sample = Up to 10-12 months
Please note that because drugs and/or their metabolites take time to show up in nails, recent drug use will not be detectable in the nail sample. It typically takes one to two weeks for a chemical substance to appear in the nail.
Transmetron's method in testing fingernails for drugs
- The nail is clipped and shaved for testing
- It is then cleaned thoroughly with a chemical substance
- The cleaned specimen is then liquefied and tested.
Almost nothing can alter the chemical composition of the nail’s hard keratin protein, making it very difficult to alter the test or artificially produce a negative result.
Please contact the Transmetron lab for more details on the precise processes used to perform fingernail drug testing.