Nails / Hair Testing

Urine testing once represented the gold standard for drug and alcohol screening, but times have changed. Modern laboratory LC and GC mass spectrometry instruments are significantly more sensitive, enabling testing in a variety of alternative matrices.

Fingernails are significantly thicker than hair, capturing more substance in the process. Drug and alcohol biomarkers can be detected in fingernails for approximately 3-6 months. Environmental exposure to illicit substances shows up almost immediately in nail samples, while biomarkers from ingested drugs or alcohol can appear in nails as soon as 1-2 weeks later. The detection window varies based on the substance, quantity, and individual metabolism. Fingernail specimens are collected by the donor in the presence of trained staff. This specimen type offers an extended detection window compared to other common drug testing methods, such as urine or oral fluid tests.