Passing a drug test has become a concern for many people as drug tests have become mandatory in many sectors during pre-employment and random drug screening. Employers need their employees to be drug-free to conduct their business operations smoothly without unnecessary issues and to improve productivity. Most organizations prefer conducting a standard 5-panel urine drug test. Some of them might also prefer a 5-panel saliva drug test or a 5-panel hair follicle drug test as per their company policy and guidelines.
This blog will cover all three types of 5-panel drug tests and guide you on how to pass your 5-panel drug test. Let us start from the basics.
What is a 5-panel drug test?
The 5-panel drug screening is the most sought drug testing method preferred by the government and private agencies. You may face your 5-panel drug test on various occasions during pre-employment, random workplace drug testing, post-accident drug testing, suspicion-based testing, etc. Employers prefer a 5-panel drug test because they are accurate, provides instant results, and is cheap and reliable.
Do you know what shows up on a 5-panel drug test? Let us know about it.
What drugs show up on a 5-panel drug test?
The 5-panel drug test looks for the following substances.
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
- THC
- PCP
- Opioids
The 5-panel drug test looks only for highly abusive opioids like 6-MAM, Opium, and Morphine. Synthetic opiates like oxycodone, methadone, hydrocodone might appear in a 10 panel or a 12-panel drug test but not in a 5-panel drug screening.
How long the drugs stay in your system?
You cannot get a precise answer for this question as the drugs may stay in your system based on various factors like metabolism, age, gender, sex, etc. Generally, a drug may remain in your urine for 2 to 3 weeks, whereas in the saliva for 3 to 7 days. The most extended detection window is the hair, where the drug can stay in a hair sample for nearly 30 to 90 days.
If your employer wants to track your short-term abuse, they may prefer conducting a 5-panel urine or saliva drug test. If they want to track your long-term abuse, t prefer a 5-panel hair follicle drug test.
If you are an occasional smoker, you can clear your 5-panel drug test by simply preventing further usage, but you might have to use some detoxification methods if you are a heavy user.
How does a 5-panel drug test work?
Let us know how does a 5-panel drug test works
5-Panel Urine Drug Test
- During your 5-panel urine test, the tester will ask you to collect the sample. You will be provided privacy while collecting the sample. If it is a supervised drug test, the supervisor may assist you till you reach the collecting room.
- The sample would be tested using a high-quality 5-panel drug test kit. The results would be produced within 5 minutes.
- If the results are positive, a secondary confirmatory test will be conducted. Negative results can be obtained within 24 hours. Positive results might take 48 to 72 hours.
5-Panel Saliva Drug Test
The 5-panel saliva drug test is conducted similarly to the 5-panel urine drug test. The only difference is that they do not require a private collection room. The tester will collect the sample from the candidate’s buccal cavity using a swab. If the results are positive, the tester may use the same sample for a confirmatory test to confirm the drug abuse.
5-Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test
The tester will collect 90 to 120 hair strands from your head, especially from the crown region. If you do not have any hair or an inadequate amount of hair length, the tester might opt for other areas of your body. There are significantly fewer chances that the tester might take hair from the pubic region as it would lead to false positives.
How to pass my 5-panel drug test?
According to some trusted sources, nearly 90% of employers prefer conducting a 5-panel urine drug test, whereas 10% and 7% prefer saliva and hair follicle drug tests.
Speaking on that front, let us discuss how to pass your 5-panel urine drug test. If you are about to give your 5-panel urine drug test, it is better to take detoxification methods that can help you if you are an occasional drinker. Some of the best detoxification methods are given below.
- Drink lots of water – You must take an enormous amount of water before your drug test. This will help you reduce the amounts of drug metabolites in your bladder. Please keep track of your water intake as too much water might dilute your urine, making it invalid for testing. This might work for occasional users. For heavy users, this may or may not work.
- Use vitamin- B complex tablets – This will add color to your urine that will not create doubt to your tester. The vitamin b complex will not add nutrients to your urine. So, it is best recommended to keep track of your water intake to prevent sample invalidation.
- Say no do drugs – It is the best way to pass your 5-panel urine drug test. Prevent yourself from illegal drugs, and you need not worry about your results.
You can use the same methods if you are about to face your 5-panel saliva or hair follicle drug test.
Note: Avoid tampering methods like synthetic or fake urine during your 5-panel urine drug test. If caught, it might cost your career. You cannot possibly tamper with your 5-panel saliva or hair follicle drug test.
False positives during my 5-panel drug test – What should I do?
False-positive results during the 5-panel drug test are not uncommon. The thing is, you should not panic in the first place. If you are sure you are not taking any drugs, you can claim a re-test or confirmatory test to your tester.
Some prescription medications might also show up as abusive substances during the 5-panel drug test. You can inform your tester about your medications (Medications should be prescribed by a certified medical professional) before the drug test, which helps the tester achieve precise results.
Generally, false-positive samples might be sent to the lab for confirmatory testing. If your confirmatory test comes out positive, the MRO will ask you for a medical explanation.
What happens if I get positive results?
If you fail your 5-panel drug test, the employer might not employ you in his company. This might vary based on the company’s drug testing policies and guidelines. If a company is committed to SAMHSA’s Drug-Free Workplace Program (DFWP), you might not get an employment offer or lose your job if you fail the 5-panel drug test.
Final words
Drug tests have become mandatory in many sectors, and it is essential to pass your 5-panel drug test to step ahead in your career. This can be easy if you keep yourself away from drugs. If you are an occasional drinker and your drug testing is on the cards, make sure you follow specific detoxification methods. Avoid tampering methods as it might seem to help you, but if caught, it might lead to threatening consequences. All the best to clear your 5 panel drug test.
