A 7-panel drug test starts from the familiar 5-panel (marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines/methamphetamines, opiates, PCP) and adds two classes — usually benzodiazepines and barbiturates, sometimes expanded opioids depending on the lab. It is a pragmatic middle ground for employers who want visibility into commonly misused prescription sedatives without paying for a full 10- or 12-panel. Typical users include manufacturing, warehousing, and staffing agencies filling non-DOT safety-sensitive positions. As with all non-federal panels, composition is set by the laboratory menu and employer policy rather than regulation, and state drug-testing laws govern when and how the test can be applied.