There are many different reasons an individual might undergo drug testing, whether for personal, professional, or legal purposes. Professional drug testing is becoming an increasingly popular – and accessible – option for personal use, workplace safety, and more.
Today, there are more testing methods available than ever before, making it simple to choose one that suits your specific needs and testing purpose. One of the most widely-used types of drug tests is the nail drug test, a straightforward and highly accurate option that offers an array of benefits.
How Does a Nail Drug Test Work?
A nail drug test analyzes an individual’s fingernail clippings for the presence of various drugs, including illegal substances. Because the process itself is extremely simple and highly accurate, nail drug testing is a popular option for employers, legal representatives, and individuals alike.
Your fingernails are made of keratin fibers, just like your hair. As your nails grow, substances in your bloodstream can be transferred from the vessels below your nails into the keratin itself. The biomarkers of these substances, including drugs, become trapped in the keratin fibers of your nails, where they will remain for several months as your nails slowly grow. A nail drug test is able to closely analyze your nail clippings to measure the presence of these biomarkers, as well as any substances that may be in or on the nails due to direct exposure.
What is the Process for Nail Drug Testing?
A nail drug test is a painless, non-invasive method that can generally be conducted on-site or in a lab setting. First, about 100mg of nail clippings (about a 2-3mm clipping from each fingernail) will be collected under the supervision of a trained technician or staff member. The clippings will then be transferred by a professional to the lab setting, where they will be analyzed.
What Drugs Can a Nail Drug Test Detect?
Like most drug tests, nail drug testing can detect a variety of drugs. Generally, it simply depends on which drugs you request to be included in the test panel. The most common drugs included in a nail drug test panel are:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamines
- Amphetamines
- Opiates
- PCP
- Benzodiazepines
- Methadone
- Barbiturates
What is the Detection Window for a Nail Drug Test?
A nail drug test offers an exceptional snapshot of both recent and past drug use, giving a “big picture” perspective on drugs that may have entered an individual’s system. As the name indicates, a nail drug test utilizes nail clippings for drug detection. Because illicit drugs and other compounds can be incorporated into your nails in several different ways (including blood flow to the nail cells and bed), this testing method can potentially measure drug use up to six to eight months prior.
This extended detection window is one of the many reasons nail drug testing is such an excellent choice for so many different situations.
Drug Testing to Suit Your Needs from {Sub:BusinessName}
Thanks to innovations in drug testing technology, there are now more options than ever when it comes to choosing the process that best fits your needs. Whether you’re an employer, legal representative, or individual searching for professional drug testing solutions, {Sub:BusinessName} has a versatile selection of services to consider. Our highly-trained technicians make the testing process simple and hassle-free, delivering highly accurate results without delay. In addition to nail drug testing, we also offer a variety of other tests, including hair and urine drug testing.
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