10-Panel Drug Tests on Urine, Hair, and More

Which Drugs Are Screened for and How Long Can They Be Detected?

Medically reviewed by Steffini Stalos, DO

A 10-panel drug test checks for prescription drugs as well as recreational drugs that are likely to be misused or abused. These typically include marijuana, opioids, amphetamines, and cocaine.

A urine sample won't go as far back for a 10-panel drug test, but it can also be done with a hair sample that detects substances for up to three months. Tests using blood or saliva (reading at the same level as blood) will deliver real-time results of what's in the bloodstream. Sweat patches approved for 7-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.

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 as methamphetamine, 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 like cannabidiol (CBD). Testing positive after using CBD will depend on whether the product contains THC, and some do.

Related: What You Need To Know About CBD and Drug Tests

Cocaine

The test will likely screen for all forms of cocaine, including crack cocaine.

Opioids

The opioid drugs include 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 to barbiturates. 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.

Amphetamines

For a urine test, this is detectable for two to four days; in hair, four to six months.

Barbiturates

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, four to six months.

Benzodiazepines

For urine tests, detection times vary from three days to six weeks, depending on use. For hair, four to six months.

Cannabis

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

Cocaine is detectable for two to four days in urine; in hair, four to six months.

Opioids

Opioids are detectable in urine for one to five days; in hair, 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

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

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:

• Sports teams and competitions

• Police investigations and court cases

• Healthcare provider request for screening due to signs of abuse or addiction

• Screenings for foster parents or adoptions

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.

Some of these may lead to a false positive, so the staff should know about them ahead of time. Avoid any poppy seeds, which may show up as opioids. Follow the specific instructions given to you, and don’t over hydrate.

Urine Testing

For urine tests, you'll need to provide a urine specimen collected from your pee into a small cup. The sample container is sterile. Expect to be monitored to ensure you've not tampered with the test (for example, by bringing a sample from someone else).

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 and finish urinating, and give the sample to the lab technician.

Hair Testing

Hair follicle tests work 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:

• Positive: One or more of the drugs was found in your sample, above a certain level. Sometimes confirmation with additional tests is done to make sure the finding is correct.

• Negative: No drugs or drug metabolites were found in your sample.

• Inconclusive: The testing could not determine if the drugs or drug metabolites were or were not in the sample.
  

What to Expect if You Got a Positive Result

If your result is positive in the initial screening, the sample may be sent out to a lab to confirm the result. Many workplace testing programs also provide you with the option to have your sample analyzed by a second lab, to ensure the results are correct.

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.

Related: Substance Use Disorders: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments

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