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A 5-panel drug test is a common form of drug screening that detects marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, and PCP in a body fluid or hair follicle sample. It is used in employment, sporting, and legal settings as well as other scenarios.
- The point of drug testing is not to identify a particular addiction, dependence, or substance use disorder. Rather, it is used to identify the use of a particular substance, in cases of employment, legal matters, or sports.
- Probation or parole monitoring often uses a 5-panel drug test or a 5-panel test plus alcohol.
- A 5-panel drug test is one of the most common types of drug tests, and it can be scheduled in advance or ordered randomly, depending on local laws and regulations.
- Although a 5-panel drug test is limited to five of the most commonly used drugs, it includes 5 categories, each detecting specific drugs within the category.
What is a 5-panel drug test?
A 5-panel drug test is one of the most widely used drug screening tests used in the United States, being regularly used by employers, education systems, law enforcement, and other fields where a drug test may be required. It was developed in the 1980s by the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) to screen for the five most widely abused drugs, leading to it being called the NIDA-5 test.[1] It uses urinalysis testing to measure five different drug-class metabolites.
Drugs a 5-panel test screens for
The DOT testing at HHS-certified laboratories is a 5-panel drug test regimen. As of January 1, 2018, the ‘Opiates’ category was renamed ‘Opioids.' The 5-panel regimen tests for these drugs:[1]
- Marijuana (THC)
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
- Codeine
- Morphine
- 6-AM (heroin)
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
While a 5-panel drug test only screens for five drug classes, it can detect multiple variants of the specific drug classes. For example, under amphetamines, a 5-panel test can detect MDMA, methamphetamines, and MDA.[1]
How are 5-panel drug tests collected?
5-panel drug tests are often collected using urine samples, though blood, saliva, and hair follicle tests can also be used. Read here to learn more about the different types of drug tests.
When will you be asked to take a 5-panel drug test?
5-panel drug tests are used in many areas to identify drug misuse, such as by employers, in sports, and in legal cases. Despite popular misconceptions, drug tests are not used to identify a substance use disorder, addiction, or dependence. How and where drug tests can be performed varies with individual state law, with some states offering more freedom for randomized drug testing than others.[2]
Common areas drug tests are used for include:
- EmploymentÂ
- Sports
- Law enforcement
- Entering drug treatment
- Monitoring prescription drug use[3]
- Educational settings
- Military involvement
In the above cases, drug tests may be scheduled in advance or ordered randomly without advanced warning, depending on local laws and regulations. Read here to learn more about how drug tests work.
