What you need to know about common drug testing panels and specimen types

Summary

In this informative video series, National Drug Screening's President, Mr. Joe Riley, discusses the intricacies of drug testing in the workplace. He explains the standard five-panel drug test, which includes marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP, and its variations like the 10-panel test. Riley also addresses the importance of specimen types, such as urine, oral fluid, and hair, each with its detection window and challenges in cheating. He highlights the impact of changing laws on drug testing, especially regarding marijuana, and stresses the need for employers to be aware of state laws and choose the appropriate testing method to maintain a drug-free workplace.

Takeaways

• 📊 The most common drug testing panel is the five-panel test, which includes marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP.
• 🔍 Amphetamines in the five-panel test also cover MDMA and MDA (ecstasy), and methamphetamines.
• 💊 The opiates section of the test includes codeine, morphine, heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, and hydromorphone.
• 📈 The five-panel test has evolved over time, with drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and various opioids being added around 2018.
• 🛑 For Department of Transportation (DOT) regulated companies, the five-panel test is mandatory, while non-regulated companies might opt for a 10-panel test or customize their panels.
• 🌿 Some non-regulated companies may choose to drop marijuana from their drug testing panels due to changing legal landscapes.
• 🧪 Traditionally, urine has been the primary specimen type for drug testing, but oral fluid and hair testing are becoming more common.
• 🤝 Oral fluid testing is non-invasive and detects recent drug use, making it suitable for post-accident or reasonable suspicion testing.
• 💇‍♀️ Hair testing can detect drug use from approximately 7 days to 90 days prior, offering a longer look-back period compared to other methods.
• 🚫 Cheating on drug tests is more difficult with oral fluid and hair testing as the collection process is supervised.
• 🏦 Employers may choose different specimen types based on their specific needs, such as immediate detection, long-term detection, or compliance with state laws and regulations.

Q & A

What is the most common drug testing panel used in drug-free workplace programs?

The most common drug testing panel is the five-panel drug test, which includes marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP.

What substances are covered under the five-panel drug test?

The five-panel drug test covers marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines (including MDA and methamphetamines), opiates (including codeine, morphine, heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, and hydromorphone), and PCP.

What is the difference between a five-panel and a ten-panel drug test?

A ten-panel drug test includes the substances in a five-panel test plus additional drugs such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methaqualone, and sometimes methadone.

Why might an employer choose to use a 10-panel test instead of a five-panel test?

Employers might choose a 10-panel test to include additional drugs like benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and methadone for more comprehensive drug screening.

What is the significance of the 2018 expansion of opiates in drug testing?

The expansion of opiates in drug testing around 2018 was due to the opioid crisis and overprescribing of opioids in the United States.

How does the drug testing panel choice differ between DOT-regulated and non-regulated companies?

DOT-regulated companies must follow specific drug testing panels as required by the government, while non-regulated companies have more flexibility and can choose different panels based on their needs and state laws.

What are the common specimen types used for drug testing?

The common specimen types used for drug testing are urine, oral fluid, and hair.

Why is urine the most traditional specimen type for drug testing?

Urine has been the most traditional specimen type for drug testing since the late 1980s because it is non-invasive, easy to collect, and detects drug use over a period of days to weeks.

What is the advantage of oral fluid testing over urine testing?

Oral fluid testing is advantageous because it detects very recent drug use and is collected in the presence of a tester, making it more difficult to cheat.

How far back in time can hair testing detect drug use?

Hair testing can detect drug use from about 7 days to approximately 90 days, providing a longer look-back period compared to urine or oral fluid.

Why might an employer choose to use a combination of different specimen types for drug testing?

Employers might use a combination of specimen types to cover different detection windows and to reduce the possibility of cheating, such as using oral fluid for reasonable suspicion or post-accident testing and hair for pre-employment testing.

How do changing marijuana laws affect the choice of specimen type for drug testing?

Changing marijuana laws may lead employers to choose oral fluid testing for marijuana use because it detects the parent drug in saliva rather than metabolites in urine, which can remain detectable for longer periods.