Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDrugs It Tests ForDetection TimesReasons for the TestWhat to ExpectGetting Results
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Drugs It Tests For
Detection Times
Reasons for the Test
What to Expect
Getting Results
A 10-panel drug test checks forprescription drugsas well asrecreational drugsthat are likely to be misused or abused. These typically includemarijuana,opioids, amphetamines, andcocaine.
A urine sample won’t detect drugs far back for a 10-panel drug test, but the test can also be done with a hair sample that detects substances for up to three months after use. Tests using blood or saliva (reading at the same level as blood) will deliver real-time results of what’s in the bloodstream.Sweat patchesapproved for seven-day use also can be applied to the skin.
This article will explore more about the test itself, the specific drugs it detects, how the test works, and what to expect when you take the test.
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What Does a 10-Panel Drug Test Test For?
The 10-panel drug test looks for five commonly abused or misused prescription drugs, as well as five recreational drugs.
Amphetamines
Amphetamines can refer to drugs such asmethamphetamine, speed, or MDMA, but the test can also detect abuse of prescribed amphetamines such as the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications Ritalin (methylphenidate) or Adderall (dextroamphetamine).
Barbiturates
Usually prescription drugs, these can include sleeping pills and sedatives.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are prescription drugs like Valium (diazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam). These are typically used to treat anxiety.
Cannabis
The drug test screens for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in cannabis (marijuana), although it may also pick up other compounds likecannabidiol(CBD).Testing positive after using CBD will depend on whether the product contains THC, and some do.
What You Need To Know About CBD and Drug Tests
Cocaine
The test will likely screen for all forms ofcocaine, including crack cocaine.
Opioids
Theopioid drugsinclude heroin, morphine, and codeine.
Phencyclidine
This drug is better known as PCP or angel dust, and can cause hallucinations and altered perceptions.
Methadone
Although this is used in the treatment of heroin addiction, it can be abused, which is why the test screens for it.
Methaqualone
Also known as quaaludes, methaqualone was originally formulated as an alternative tobarbiturates. Unfortunately, it is similarly addictive.
Propoxyphene
Also known as Darvocet, this is a prescription painkiller with the potential for abuse. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) pulled Darvocet from the market in 2010, but it can still be purchased from drug dealers.
Detection Window for a 10-Panel Urine Test
In many cases, a drug test will only be able to detect recent drug use. The detection window varies depending on whether the test is done with a sample of urine or hair. It can also depend on whether someone is a chronic or occasional user of the drug.
For a urine test, this is detectable for two to four days; in hair, the drug can be picked up for four to six months.
The detection window in urine depends on the type of barbiturate taken. In urine, short-acting barbiturates are detectable for two days; long-acting ones are detectable for three weeks. In hair, the window is four to six months.
For urine tests, detection times vary from three days to six weeks, depending on use.For hair, it’s four to six months.
For urine tests, detection times depend on how frequently the person smokes. Casual use can be detected up to three days; chronic use can be detected for 30 days or more.In hair, cannabis can be detected for four to six months.
Cocaine is detectable for two to four days in urine; in hair, it’s four to six months.
Opioids are detectable in urine for one to five days; in hair, the time frame is four to six months.
Phencyclidine (PCP)
In urine, PCP can be detectable between eight days and, for a chronic user, 30 days. In hair, it’s detectable for four to six months.
Propoxyphene can be found in as little as six hours and up to two days in urine, and four to six months in hair.
Methadone is detectable for about three days in urine, and four to six months in hair.
Quaaludes
Quaaludes (methaqualone) are detectable for about two to four days in urine, and four to six months in hair.
How and When to Get a 10-Panel Drug Test
A 10-panel drug test may be needed as part of an employment screening.Other scenarios in which it may be needed include:
A healthcare provider might also order the test if you’re being prescribed amphetamines or opioids to ensure you’re complying with the prescribed amount and not giving it away or selling it to others.
If the test is ordered, you will likely have to go to a lab to provide a urine sample. You may be asked to come back at a later date or on the same day it’s ordered.
What to Expect From a 10-Panel Drug Test
Knowing what to expect from the drug test can help ease your nerves and help you be prepared for it. Before the test, tell the testing lab or healthcare provider about any medications you are taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, or supplements.
Urine Testing
You will be told to wash your hands and clean the genital area with the given cleansing cloth. Begin urinating, and then place the collection cup under the urine stream, collecting at least 1 or 2 ounces. Remove the cup, finish urinating, and give the sample to the lab technician.
Hair Testing
Hair follicle testswork because there are blood vessels in hair that drugs can pass through. Any drug use is “recorded” in the hair for up to 90 days, although it can take about seven to 10 days for drug use to show up in the hair.
A hair sample about 1.5 inches long is taken from near the scalp, containing about 200 strands of hair. It is sent to a lab for testing.
Getting the Results From the 10-Panel Drug Test
A urine test can sometimes provide the results immediately, whereas the hair test will take some time to be sent out to a lab.
What Do Results Mean?
The results can be positive, negative, or inconclusive. Here’s what those terms mean:
What to Expect if You Got a Positive Result
Summary
The 10-panel drug test screens for 10 different drugs, both recreational and prescription. The drug detection window varies depending on several factors, including the type of sample that is used to do the test (for example, urine vs. hair). With an instant point-of-care drug test, the results can be immediate.
The test is often used for employment screening, but it also is useful in other scenarios. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about drug testing or concerns about substance use disorder.
Substance Use Disorders: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zinnia Health.What Exactly is a 10-Panel Drug Screen?Darbishire PL, Devine PS, Proctor AJ, Horner WJ, Hoffman EM, Ott CA,et al.National Survey Exploring Drug Screening in Pharmacy Programs.Am J Pharm Educ. 2019 Apr;83(3):6576. doi:10.5688/ajpe6576.Wallace AL, Wade NE, Lisdahl KM.Impact of 2 Weeks of Monitored Abstinence on Cognition in Adolescent and Young Adult Cannabis Users.J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2020 Sep;26(8):776-784. doi:10.1017/S1355617720000260.Bonn-Miller MO, Loflin MJE, Thomas BF, Marcu JP, Hyke T, Vandrey R.Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online.JAMA. 2017;318(17):1708-1709. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.11909U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA News Release: Xanodyne agrees to withdraw propoxyphene from the U.S. market.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Drug Testing in Child Welfare: Practice and Policy Considerations.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Drug Testing Resources.Usman M, Naseer A, Baig Y, et al.Forensic toxicological analysis of hair: a review.Egypt J Forensic Sci. 9, 17 (2019). doi:10.1186/s41935-019-0119-5Paul R, Williams R, Hodson V, Peake C.Detection of cannabinoids in hair after cosmetic application of hemp oil.Sci Rep. 2019;9:2582. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-39609-0MedlinePlus.Drug Testing.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zinnia Health.What Exactly is a 10-Panel Drug Screen?Darbishire PL, Devine PS, Proctor AJ, Horner WJ, Hoffman EM, Ott CA,et al.National Survey Exploring Drug Screening in Pharmacy Programs.Am J Pharm Educ. 2019 Apr;83(3):6576. doi:10.5688/ajpe6576.Wallace AL, Wade NE, Lisdahl KM.Impact of 2 Weeks of Monitored Abstinence on Cognition in Adolescent and Young Adult Cannabis Users.J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2020 Sep;26(8):776-784. doi:10.1017/S1355617720000260.Bonn-Miller MO, Loflin MJE, Thomas BF, Marcu JP, Hyke T, Vandrey R.Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online.JAMA. 2017;318(17):1708-1709. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.11909U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA News Release: Xanodyne agrees to withdraw propoxyphene from the U.S. market.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Drug Testing in Child Welfare: Practice and Policy Considerations.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Drug Testing Resources.Usman M, Naseer A, Baig Y, et al.Forensic toxicological analysis of hair: a review.Egypt J Forensic Sci. 9, 17 (2019). doi:10.1186/s41935-019-0119-5Paul R, Williams R, Hodson V, Peake C.Detection of cannabinoids in hair after cosmetic application of hemp oil.Sci Rep. 2019;9:2582. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-39609-0MedlinePlus.Drug Testing.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Zinnia Health.What Exactly is a 10-Panel Drug Screen?Darbishire PL, Devine PS, Proctor AJ, Horner WJ, Hoffman EM, Ott CA,et al.National Survey Exploring Drug Screening in Pharmacy Programs.Am J Pharm Educ. 2019 Apr;83(3):6576. doi:10.5688/ajpe6576.Wallace AL, Wade NE, Lisdahl KM.Impact of 2 Weeks of Monitored Abstinence on Cognition in Adolescent and Young Adult Cannabis Users.J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2020 Sep;26(8):776-784. doi:10.1017/S1355617720000260.Bonn-Miller MO, Loflin MJE, Thomas BF, Marcu JP, Hyke T, Vandrey R.Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online.JAMA. 2017;318(17):1708-1709. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.11909U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA News Release: Xanodyne agrees to withdraw propoxyphene from the U.S. market.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Drug Testing in Child Welfare: Practice and Policy Considerations.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Drug Testing Resources.Usman M, Naseer A, Baig Y, et al.Forensic toxicological analysis of hair: a review.Egypt J Forensic Sci. 9, 17 (2019). doi:10.1186/s41935-019-0119-5Paul R, Williams R, Hodson V, Peake C.Detection of cannabinoids in hair after cosmetic application of hemp oil.Sci Rep. 2019;9:2582. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-39609-0MedlinePlus.Drug Testing.
Zinnia Health.What Exactly is a 10-Panel Drug Screen?
Darbishire PL, Devine PS, Proctor AJ, Horner WJ, Hoffman EM, Ott CA,et al.National Survey Exploring Drug Screening in Pharmacy Programs.Am J Pharm Educ. 2019 Apr;83(3):6576. doi:10.5688/ajpe6576.
Wallace AL, Wade NE, Lisdahl KM.Impact of 2 Weeks of Monitored Abstinence on Cognition in Adolescent and Young Adult Cannabis Users.J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2020 Sep;26(8):776-784. doi:10.1017/S1355617720000260.
Bonn-Miller MO, Loflin MJE, Thomas BF, Marcu JP, Hyke T, Vandrey R.Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online.JAMA. 2017;318(17):1708-1709. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.11909
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA News Release: Xanodyne agrees to withdraw propoxyphene from the U.S. market.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Drug Testing in Child Welfare: Practice and Policy Considerations.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Drug Testing Resources.
Usman M, Naseer A, Baig Y, et al.Forensic toxicological analysis of hair: a review.Egypt J Forensic Sci. 9, 17 (2019). doi:10.1186/s41935-019-0119-5
Paul R, Williams R, Hodson V, Peake C.Detection of cannabinoids in hair after cosmetic application of hemp oil.Sci Rep. 2019;9:2582. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-39609-0
MedlinePlus.Drug Testing.
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