5-Panel (Five-Panel Drug Test)
The standard drug test panel screening for five substance categories: marijuana (THC), cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamines.
Key Facts
- Standard DOT-mandated drug testing panel
- Screens for: THC, Cocaine, Opiates, PCP, Amphetamines
- Required for all DOT-regulated safety-sensitive employees
- Uses immunoassay screening then GC-MS/LC-MS confirmation
- SAMHSA establishes cutoff concentrations
The five-panel drug test is the federally mandated standard for DOT-regulated workplace drug testing. It screens for five substance categories: marijuana metabolites (THC-COOH), cocaine metabolites (benzoylecgonine), opiate metabolites (codeine, morphine, 6-AM for heroin), phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamines (amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, MDA). Initial immunoassay screening is followed by GC-MS or LC-MS/MS confirmation testing when the screening result exceeds SAMHSA-established cutoff levels. This panel is the basis for all DOT drug testing under 49 CFR Part 40.
Drug Testing Panels Compared
Breakdown of substances detected by common workplace drug testing panel configurations.
| Type | Substances | Common Use | DOT Compliant | Specimen Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Panel | THC, Cocaine, Opiates, PCP, Amphetamines | DOT-mandated testing | Yes | Urine or oral fluid |
| 10-Panel | 5-panel + Benzos, Barbiturates, Methadone, Propoxyphene, Methaqualone | Corporate drug-free workplace | No (expanded panel) | Urine |
| Hair Follicle | 5–17+ substances (90-day window) | Pre-employment, zero-tolerance policies | No | Hair |
| Oral Fluid | 5–12+ substances (24–48 hr window) | On-site, reasonable suspicion | Yes (since 2023) | Saliva |
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