Are There Different Types of Drug Panel Tests?

 

The number of drug testing programs may vary, however the most common you've probably heard of is the 5-panel drug test. But what exactly does it imply? The number of panels shows the number of drugs that the test can identify. A "drug panel" is a group of drugs paired with an indicating number of panels the test can detect. 

Once the test is performed, it will show a number. The higher the number, the more drugs in the drug panel test were detected. The clinical setting will determine which drugs to test for in a UDT (urine drug test) panel. The five drugs needed by federal workplace guidelines, including amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates, and phencyclidine, are included in most panels. 

 

In this article, you’ll learn about some of the main drug panel tests including the 5, 7, 9, 10, and 12 drug panel tests.

• How many panel drug tests are there?
• What do most 5-panel drug tests test for?
• What is on a 7-panel drug test?
• What is included in a 9-panel drug test?
• What does a standard 10-panel drug test for?
• What is Included in a 12-Panel Drug Test?
• Reading the results of a drug panel test
• To sum it all up

 

How Many Panel Drug Tests Are There?

Depending on the testing company, this can be different. A basic 5-panel drug test, which screens for five illicit drugs and occasionally alcohol, is commonly used in pre-employment drug testing and others.

A comprehensive panel drug test, on the other hand, might be the way to go if you're concerned about illicit drugs and other prescription drug addictions in the workplace. A larger panel drug test can help to broaden the scope of the test and the drugs that are tested.

Oftentimes, urine is chosen for its familiarity and convenience of use. It's low-cost and can be used during drug screening to detect specific drugs (depending on the panel selected). Drugs and their metabolites also have a long-lasting effect on urine, thus increasing the time it can detect drugs. 

Let’s get into the different panel drug tests below!

What do most 5-panel drug tests test for?

A 5-panel drug test most often tests for common illicit drugs, including:

• Marijuana (THC)
• Cocaine (COC)
• Opioids (MOP)
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Amphetamine (AMP)

The federal 5-panel drug test (such as those required by the Department of Transportation - DOT) includes PCP. However, it's important to note that not all 5-panel tests are the same. Some versions of the 5-panel drug test, particularly in non-federal settings, substitute Benzodiazepines (BZO) for Phencyclidine (PCP).

The 5-panel drug test is a reliable choice for organizations seeking to implement a drug testing program. It's widely used by employers and in various industries, especially in regulated environments like DOT and other federal tests.

These 5-panel drug tests are frequently used for random testing through lab tests or rapid urine drug tests. The rapid tests, which can provide same-day results, are popular among unregulated businesses. Urine-based drug panel tests can detect substances between 4 and 7 days after use.

What is on a 7-panel drug test?

A 7-panel drug test like the Exploro 7-panel urine drug test looks for 93%+ of commonly used illicit drugs in the USA: 

• Marijuana (THC)
• Cocaine (COC)
• Opioids (MOP)
• Amphetamine (AMP) 
• Methamphetamine (MET)
• Benzodiazepines (BZO) including Xanax, Valium, & Ativan. 
• Ecstasy (MDMA)

Below you can see the detection levels in this test for each drug.

You can get the Exploro 7-panel urine drug test here.  

What is included in a 9-panel drug test?

The 9 drug panel test looks for the following illicit drugs:  

• Marijuana (THC)
• Cocaine (COC)
• Opioids (MOP)
• Amphetamine (AMP) 
• Methamphetamine (MET)
• Benzodiazepines (BZO) 
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Methadone (MTD) 
• Barbiturates (BAR) 

Employers commonly utilize the 9-panel drug test to establish whether a possible recruit is a safe and dependable addition to the company. This type of screening is also often used to check athletes for illegal substances that may be artificially boosting their athletic performance and giving them an unfair boost.

What does a standard 10-panel drug test for?

As the name states, this last test looks for traces of the following illicit drugs: 

• Marijuana (THC)
• Cocaine (COC)
• Opioids (MOP)
• Amphetamine (AMP) 
• Benzodiazepines (BZO) 
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Methadone (MTD) 
• Barbiturates (BAR) 
• Methaqualone (MQL)
• Propoxyphene (PPX) 

While a 10-panel drug test can assist in the detection of drug usage, various substances have different detection times. The length of time it takes to detect a drug depends on the type of substance, how much was taken, and how quickly the person's metabolism functions.

A 10-panel drug test will not reveal whether or not the person is actively using a drug. The tests only assess byproducts in the body that result from the medication's breakdown, but they can't tell you how much of the drug is in circulation.

Below you can see specific drug detection times on a 10 drug panel test:

What is Included in a 12-Panel Drug Test?

The 12-panel drug test is a more detailed option for testing, providing a wide look at both illegal drugs and some drugs that are legal with a doctor's note. This test is mainly used in fields where safety is crucial, such as in health care, and law fields, and by employers who need to ensure a drug-free area.

This test checks for the following substances:

• Marijuana (THC)
• Cocaine (COC)
• Opioids (MOP)
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Amphetamine (AMP)
• Methamphetamine (MET)
• Benzodiazepines (BZO)
• Barbiturates (BAR)
• Methadone (MTD)
• Propoxyphene (PPX)
• Buprenorphine (BUP)
• Tramadol (TRA)

The addition of drugs like Tramadol and Buprenorphine in the 12-panel test helps in finding the use of newer or less common drugs not covered by smaller tests. This broad scope makes the 12-panel drug test a key tool for detailed drug use analysis, helping keep high-risk areas safe and healthy.

Reading the results of a drug panel test

A urine drug test can give three possible results positive, negative, or invalid. 

Positive results

A positive result means that the drug or its metabolites are present in measurable concentrations in the person's system. This indicates that they have lately used one or more of the detected drugs. 

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), federal employees and personnel in many other safety-related sectors have the right to have their samples retested if a positive result is obtained. This safeguard protects the person from disciplinary action as a result of false positives.

Negative results

A negative result means the substances being tested aren't present or aren't present in sufficient quantities to be detected. Keep in mind though, that these results don’t imply that the individual has never used the drugs or will not use them in the future.

Invalid results

An invalid result means the test was not successful. Labs can order the test again if the results come back as inconclusive.

To sum it all up

Drug panel tests are often used for new hires, athletes, rehabilitation patients, and more. Most employers who require testing will use a 5-panel drug test and an alcohol test. With that said, some professions involving personal and public safety may require regular 10-panel drug tests. Whatever the case may be, you can test yourself at home before the official drug test to make sure your body has fewer or no drugs based on the test cutoff level.