Fingernail drug testing is a non-invasive method used to detect long-term substance use. It can identify drug or alcohol use for up to six months. This makes it ideal for legal, clinical, and monitoring purposes.
Fingernail testing is ideal when a long-term history of substance use needs to be evaluated. It can detect even small amounts of drug or alcohol use over time, making it valuable for monitoring compliance, supporting legal cases, or verifying sobriety. Because nails grow slowly and preserve metabolic markers well, this type of test provides clear, tamper-resistant evidence of actual ingestion. Employers, treatment centers, attorneys, and family courts often rely on fingernail testing when trust, safety, or accountability is essential.
After a drug is ingested and processed by the body, its metabolites travel through the bloodstream and bind to the keratin as fingernails grow. These substances become part of the nail structure, providing a lasting record of use. Because nails grow slowly, this method can detect drug use for up to six months prior.
Fingernail testing can detect a wide range of commonly abused substances, including cocaine, marijuana (THC), opiates, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, PCP, and even alcohol through EtG markers. It offers comprehensive detection across multiple drug classes. This makes it especially useful for legal, court-ordered, and compliance-related testing.