What Is a 5-Panel Drug Test?

Workplace drug testing programs feature panels that each test a different type of illegal substance or commonly abused prescription medications. A 5-panel drug test screens for 5 drugs, while a 10-panel test screens for 10 drugs, and so on. The 5-panel test focuses on the five most commonly abused substances that threaten workplace safety.

Most workplaces utilize 5-panel drug tests for their screening programs. The tests may be used during the pre-employment process, when suspicion of substance abuse arises, after an accident, or as part of random screenings.

While some careers require more extensive testing, the 5-panel test is the most common option due to its accuracy, affordability, and convenience.

Panel tests detect metabolites, substances your body creates when processing a drug. While hair, saliva, or blood can be used for panel drug screenings, urine is the most common sample collected.

The 5-panel drug test checks for metabolites linked to amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, PCP, and THC. 7 and 10-panel tests target the same substances plus some more.

Employees are usually given a 24-hour notice before testing unless they are required to agree to random screenings. Sometimes, special instructions like not eating certain foods or not urinating for hours before the test may be provided.

While 5-panel tests don’t test for alcohol, some labs offer alcohol detection as an add-on. Employers may also request a 7 or 10-panel drug test if more in-depth screenings are required.

As marijuana laws change, some employers may no longer be allowed to test for THC unless it impairs their ability to conduct certain roles. However, 4-panel drug tests are available as an alternative.

Because most tests require urinary samples, they usually occur in bathrooms. An administrator often supervises and may take extra measures to ensure samples aren’t tampered with. Hair, saliva, and blood sampling don’t require privacy, so tampering is much more difficult.

Urinary tests require a candidate to collect urine in a cup, close it, and turn it in to the administrator. Saliva testing uses an absorbent pad to collect saliva. Hair testing only requires a snip of hair, while blood testing requires a professional to draw blood.

The detection time for a 5-panel drug test varies depending on the sample collected, the type of substance used, the frequency of use, and the amount ingested. Alcohol can also affect drug metabolism and alter detection times.

As previously mentioned, drug tests detect metabolites left behind by substances. Different metabolites are detectable for distinct periods. These are the average detection times of 5-panel drug test substances using a urine sample.

Substance Detection Time

Amphetamines 2 days

Cocaine 2-4 days

Opiates 2-4 days

Phencyclidine Up to 14 days; up to 30 days for chronic users

THC 2-3 days for light smokers; 5 days for moderate smokers;

10 days for daily smokers; and up to 28 days for chronic smokers

Hair samples can detect these substances for up to 90 days. Saliva samples can detect PCP for up to three days, cocaine for one to two days, and amphetamines, opiates, and THC for up to one day. Blood samples can detect cocaine and THC for one or two days, amphetamines and opiates for up to one day, and PCP for one to four hours.

Some panel tests produce results almost immediately, but most are sent to a lab for analysis. Results are often available after a few days, but turnaround times can vary based on several factors.

Some labs are more efficient than others in testing. If the initial screening produces a positive result, additional testing is required. A confirmed positive requires a follow-up with a Medical Review Officer (MRO).

MROs are licensed physicians specially trained to review and interpret test results. MROs contact the recipients of positive or inconclusive test results to determine potential causes of the result. Results that require MRO involvement can take up to 10 days before being returned.

5-panel drug tests will come back negative, positive, or inconclusive. A negative result means the tested substance wasn’t found or concentrated enough in the candidate’s system to be recognized. Negative results don’t suggest a substance has never been ingested.

A positive result means the substance was found in the candidate’s system. Positive test results require more extensive testing to confirm the result. If the positive is confirmed, an MRO will contact the test subject for context before sending the result to the employer.

Sometimes, tests can produce false positives. These results can be due to medication, CBD, or foods in the candidate’s system, as they can share similar substances with those being tested for. Candidates can dispute the result if they believe they received a misleading positive.

An inconclusive result means the test was unsuccessful. This lack of success could be due to impurities in the sample or lab error. Inconclusive tests will often be retaken.