Which drugs are screened and for how long can they be detected?
A 10-panel drug test checks forprescription drugsas well asrecreational drugsthat are likely to be misused or abused.
These typically includemarijuana,opioids, amphetamines, andcocaine.
KLH49/E+ / Getty Images
KLH49/E+ / Getty Images
What Does a 10-Panel Drug Test Test For?
Barbiturates
Usually prescription drugs, these can include sleeping pills and sedatives.
These are typically used to treat anxiety.
Cocaine
The test will likely screen for all forms ofcocaine, including crack cocaine.
Opioids
Theopioid drugsinclude heroin, morphine, and codeine.
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 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.
The detection window in urine depends on the pop in 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 depend on how frequently the person smokes.
In hair, it’s detectable for four to six months.
Methadone is detectable for about three days in urine, and four to six months in hair.
You may be asked to come back at a later date or on the same day its ordered.
The sample container is sterile.
You will be told to wash your hands and clean the genital area with the given cleansing cloth.
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.
It is sent to a lab for testing.
What Do Results Mean?
The results can be positive, negative, or inconclusive.
Summary
The 10-panel drug test screens for 10 different drugs, both recreational and prescription.
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.
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