ETG Hair Drug Test or Fingernail Drug Test?
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I am a recovering alcoholic and I need to do an ETG hair follicle test. I had been clean for about a year and half when I had a relapse about two months ago. This relapse happened when I was out with friends and I drank enough to become slightly intoxicated. My second scheduled 6 month test coming up in about 2 weeks for my child custody case. I really don’t want to lose visitation rights because of this one mistake.
Online, I read that there are other options besides the ETG hair follicle test like ETG fingernail testing. Does the ETG fingernail test have a shorter detection time than the ETG hair follicle test?. Would it be less likely to show my slip up? The judge refuses to let me take a urine test but he might accept a fingernail test. Please help us make the best decision.
Chelsea Fransen, Columbus Ohio
Hi Chelsea,
Based off the information that you’ve shared an ETG hair follicle test is going to be the best option for you. Although an ETG hair follicle test does have a detection time of 3 months. 
The fingernail ETG test tends to go back further than the ETG hair follicle test. Both tests are great for determining long term usage of alcohol because alcohol’s direct metabolite ethyl glucuronide collects in these keratinous matrices. Since fingernails tend to grow slower than hair, more ethyl glucuronide can accumulate in nails.
Also, keep in mind these tests are not ideal for detecting light usage so a one time exposure is less likely to show up. The only way to be certain there isn’t a presence of ethyl glucuronide in your hair and nails is to be tested. Contact our office at your earliest convenience and we will be happy to discus this in further detail with you.