Fingernail Drug Testing

Our nationwide labs are full-service Third Party Administrator (TPA) drug and alcohol screening facilities.

With a fingernail test from ARCpoint Labs, we can detect a history of drug use that has occurred within the last few months. Our nationwide labs offer fingernail and toenail testing, which can be a thorough method of detecting drugs if done properly.

How is a fingernail drug test similar to hair drug testing?

Similar to hair follicle testing, fingernails and toenails offer detailed information and a history of drug use. Depending on the length of 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 different drugs that can be detected and how the time frames vary as the technology for fingernail drug testing continually advances.

How Fingernail Drug Testing Typically Works

Drug abuse has actually been measured in nails since 1984. However, the need to test for longer detection periods has given fingernail drug testing a new demographic to fill.

Like hair follicles, fingernails are composed of a hard protein called keratin and are tested with the same process as hair follicles. Drugs are incorporated into nails from the blood stream and remain locked in the nail as it grows.

Drugs enter the nail from the base as the keratin is formed and via the nail bed that extends under the full length of nail.

The most common method of screening for drug use in a fingernail drug test is by using the five panel.  The fingernail is put in a chemical solution to rid the nail of external contaminants and is then liquefied.

Our lab's method in testing fingernails for drugs

• The nail is clipped or 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 test result.

Please contact your local ARCpoint Labs location for more details on the precise processes used to perform fingernail drug testing.