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How Far Back Does a 5-Panel Drug Test Goes?
From a few hours up to three months, this wide time frame represents the detection window of a standard 5-panel drug test.
Why the time frame is that lengthy and what exactly determines the detection period of my test?
We’ll answer these questions and more in this article. Read on to understand how far back a 5-panel frug test goes.
Table of Contents
The must-know information about 5-panel drug tests
Every drug test contains different panels, each representing one drug being tested. Still, the five-panel test is considered the standard that most employers and government agencies use.
Technicians do this test by taking a urine sample from the person in the test and analyzing it. However, the test can be done through saliva, hair, or samples as well.
The 5-panel is usually a part of the background check employers require from their job candidates, especially for positions related to the Department of transportation (DOT).
Some employers may also conduct random drug testing on existing employees from one time to another.
What Drugs Show Up on a 5-Panel Screening Test?
The 5-panel test detects the following five different commonly abused substances:
- Cocaine: Its presence is confirmed if the sample contains benzoylecgonine metabolite.
- Marijuana: The presence of THC compound indicates its existence in the person’s system.
- Amphetamines: This substance is detected by the presence of methamphetamine and amphetamine metabolites.
- Opiates: This can detected with the presence of heroin, morphine oxymorphone, hydrocodone, codeine, and oxycodone metabolites.
- Phencyclidine: it’s present if the sample contains PCP metabolites.
Does a 5-panel Drug Test for Alcohol?
Alcohol testing isn’t a part of five-panel drug tests. The test only screens for the above-mentioned five substances.
However, most drug testing services offer employers an option to include a separate alcohol use test with the 5-panel drug screening.
These alcohol screening analyses are usually done using breath and blood ethanol testing methods.
How Far Back Does a 5-Panel Drug Test Really Go? (600)
The following three significant factors impact the approximate detection window of a panel drug test:
- The test sample type
- The type of abused drug
- Frequency of use
Occasional smoking of marijuana, for example, might not show a detectable THC in the test sample after only a couple of days. In contrast, smoking cannabis heavily can lead to a detectable THC in the blood for weeks.
With that said, let’s take a look at the average time a drug can stay detectable in the drug tests for different types of drug tests
The Detection Window of Urine Tests
Urine tests are the most common drug screening option and they Can only detect drug use on the short term, eight days max.
Here are the approximate duration different drugs can be detectable in a urine test sample:
Substance | Detection time frame |
Opiates | 2-3 days |
Cocaine | 2-4 days |
Marijuana | 2-5 days for light & moderate smokers Up to 10 days for daily smokers Up to 4 weeks for chronic smokers |
Amphetamines | 2 days |
Phencyclidine | 8 days for moderate users Around 30 days for chronic users |
The Detection Window of Hair Drug Tests
Hair follicle drug testing comes with a significantly longer detective window compared to urine.
A hair follicle drug test can detect the presence of a substance for a duration of up to three months from the last use.
But why a hair test goes much further back than a urine one? Here’s the answer:
When the person consumes a certain drug, it enters the bloodstream and within a little time, it becomes a part of the hair cells.
Because the hair growth cycle and changes are considerably slow, the substance stays in it for weeks and even months.
That’s why a hair sample is the best option to detect drug use repetitive patterns.
The Detection Window of Saliva and Blood Tests
Although less common, saliva and blood screening tests are one of the methods used to detect substance use.
They aren’t usually used because the drug test results Can’t show a trace of drugs consumed more than four days earlier.
Given that, the following Is the average time frame the substance can be detectable in saliva and blood:
Substance | Saliva | Blood |
Opiates | Up to 4 days | For 24 hours |
Cocaine | Up the 3 days | 1-2 days |
Marijuana | For 24 hours | Up to 14 days |
Amphetamines | Between 1 and 2 days | Less than 12 hours |
Phencyclidine | 1-3 days | 1-4 hours |
How to Prepare for The Five-Panel Drug Detection Tests?
You can follow some preparation tips before undergoing a five-panel drug test to make the process easier and prevent the need for repeating the analysis.
Here are the preparations you need to do before each test type:
Preparing for a 5-Panel Urine Drug Test
Keep these tips in mind when you’re about to undergo a urine drug test:
- Stay hydrated around the time of the test and try to consume at least 8 ounces of water half an hour before the test.
- Avoid using tobacco or eating half an hour before the tests.
- Provide the sample in a clean urine container.
Preparing for a Hair Test
These pieces of advice will help you be ready for a hair drug test:
- Don’t choose damaged hair for the analysis because the lab will likely reject them.
- Avoid overusing styling products a few days before undergoing the test.
Preparing For Saliva Test
Try to follow this couple of tips for a successful Saliva Drug Test:
- Drink a considerable amount of water on the test day.
- Don’t eat, drink, smoke, sniff, cough, or chew gum for half an hour before the test.
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Substance abuse can devastate one’s job and even their entire professional life. It can deteriorate their performance and increase avoidable work errors.
If an employed person undergoes a random workplace drug test because of a reasonable suspicion from the employer, they may be at risk of being fired.
Not to mention that you cannot apply for any job containing a drug testing program.
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Published on: 2024-06-10
Updated on: 2024-06-10