Drug Tests: 5-Panel vs. 10-Panel, and What to Bring

The difference between a 5-panel and a 10-panel drug test is simply how many drugs or drug classes the test screens for: a 5-panel test usually covers five common ones, and a 10-panel test adds five more. Which one you need isn't your choice. It's set by whoever is asking for the test, usually an employer, so the most useful thing to do before you go is check their paperwork.

What does a 5-panel drug test check for?

A standard 5-panel test typically screens for:

• Marijuana (THC)
• Cocaine
• Amphetamines, including methamphetamine
• Opiates, such as codeine and morphine
• PCP (phencyclidine)

What does a 10-panel drug test add?

A 10-panel test usually includes the five above plus several prescription and other drugs, commonly:

• Benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety and sleep medicines)
• Barbiturates
• Methadone
• Two others that vary by lab, often from a list including propoxyphene, methaqualone, oxycodone and MDMA

Panels aren't fully standardized, so the exact list depends on the test your employer or the requesting organization has chosen. If you need to know precisely what's included, ask them.

How a urine drug screen works

Most workplace drug tests use a urine sample. At AfterOurs, a drug screen is a urine collection done in the clinic following chain-of-custody procedures, and results are reported to the requesting party. Chain of custody means the sample is sealed, labeled and documented at each step so everyone can trust it's yours and hasn't been tampered with.

During the collection you'll typically be asked to leave bags and coats outside the restroom, wash your hands, and provide the sample in a sealed cup. The water in the toilet may be tinted and the sink taps turned off; that's standard, to protect the sample. Try not to urinate right before your appointment, and don't drink a large amount of water beforehand, since a very dilute sample may need to be redone.

What to bring to your drug test

• A government-issued photo ID. Collections usually can't go ahead without one.
• Any form or authorization from your employer. This tells the clinic which test to run and where to send results.
• A list of your prescriptions. Some legitimate medicines can show up on a screen. Don't stop taking anything you're prescribed; a non-negative result is often reviewed with you before it's reported as positive.

Drug testing for an employer

If your employer is sending you, ask whether they have an account with AfterOurs. Employer-directed screens are billed to the employer's account, and our occupational medicine services require an employer contract, so the employer needs to set that up before sending staff. Employers can contact us through that page.

One Colorado-specific note: recreational marijuana is legal here, but many employers still include THC in their testing, so check your employer's policy rather than assuming it's left off.

What it costs

If you're paying for a drug screen yourself, for a personal requirement or a job that asked you to arrange it, a urine drug screen at AfterOurs is a flat $50 self-pay, the same whether you walk in or book online. The full list of flat-fee services is on our cost and insurance page.

Call 911 or go to the ER if… someone may have overdosed or been poisoned: they're very hard to wake, breathing slowly or not at all, have blue or gray lips, are having a seizure, have chest pain, or are severely confused or agitated. If opioids could be involved and naloxone (Narcan) is available, give it and call 911. For poison questions that aren't emergencies, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Where to find us

Four clinics across metro Denver, all ages welcome, se habla español:

• Hampden (Southeast Denver): 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Littleton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Thornton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Highlands: Mon–Fri 5–11 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–11 PM

Walk in, or book online.