What Is a 5-Panel Drug Test?

Q: What Is a 5-Panel Drug Test?

The 5-panel drug test screens for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP. It is the most common employment drug test per SAMHSA guidelines.

A 5-panel drug test screens for the five most commonly abused drug categories, per SAMHSA guidelines.

The 5 Panels

1. THC (marijuana)
2. Cocaine
3. Amphetamines (includes methamphetamine, MDMA)
4. Opiates (heroin, codeine, morphine)
5. Phencyclidine (PCP)

How It Works

Urine sample collected
Initial immunoassay screen
Positive results confirmed by GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry)
GC-MS eliminates false positives

Who Uses 5-Panel?

Most employers (DOT requires 5-panel)
Federal government
Many state agencies
Sports organizations

Source: SAMHSA, NIDA, Mayo Clinic.

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