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If you’re a CDL driver or another DOT-regulated safety-sensitive worker, you must undergo 5-panel drug tests at certain times both before and during your employment.
This guide explains when 5-panel tests happen, what they screen for, and what to do if you fail one.
Key Takeaways
- A 5-panel drug test is a standard screening tool used by employers to detect an applicant’s or employee’s recent use of drugs in the five most commonly abused categories.
- DOT 5-panel drug tests are urine tests. Non-regulated employers might also require saliva, hair, or blood tests through their drug-free workplace policies.
- If you’re a safety-sensitive worker who fails or refuses a 5-panel DOT drug test, you must complete a SAP program and the RTD process to get back to work.
What is a 5-Panel Drug Test?
A 5-panel drug test is a standard drug screening tool employers can use to detect your recent use of an illicit substance that falls under one of the five most commonly abused drug categories.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) requires regulated employers to use 5-panel drug tests for all safety-sensitive workers at specific times, both before and during employment.
Non-regulated employers may also require applicants and employees to undergo 5-panel drug tests, based on their internal drug-free workplace policies.
What Does it Screen For?
A 5-panel drug test tests for 14 substances that fall into five major categories, including:
- THC (marijuana)
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
- Amphetamine
- Methamphetamine
- MDA
- MDMA
- Opioids
- Heroin
- Codeine
- Morphine
- Hydromorphone
- Hydrocodone
- Oxymorphone
- Oxycodone
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
When Do I Have to Take a 5 Panel Drug Test?
The times when you’ll have to undergo a 5-panel drug test depend on whether you’re a safety-sensitive worker who works for a DOT-regulated employer or are a worker for a non-regulated company.
DOT-Regulated Safety-Sensitive Workers
If you’re a safety-sensitive worker (such as a CDL driver) regulated by one of the administrations within the US Department of Transportation, you must take a 5-panel drug test in the following situations:
- Pre-employment drug testing – DOT-regulated employers must condition an employment offer for a safety-sensitive job on your passing a 5-panel DOT drug test. If you fail or refuse, you won’t be hired.
- Random drug testing – After you’ve been hired, your employer may select you for an unannounced, random drug test at any time. DOT-regulated employers must test varying percentages of their safety-sensitive workers based on the administration that regulates them. If you fail or refuse a random drug test, you will be removed from your safety-sensitive duties and won’t be able to return to work until you complete the return-to-duty (RTD) process.
- Post-accident testing – If you’re involved in an accident that meets specific criteria, you’ll have to undergo post-accident drug testing to determine whether your recent use of illicit substances might have been a contributing factor.
- Reasonable suspicion testing – If your supervisor notices signs that indicate you might be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at work, you can be ordered to undergo reasonable suspicion testing. The signs that might prompt a test include your behavior, smell, or appearance. If you fail or refuse a reasonable suspicion test, you’ll be removed from duty and will have to complete the RTD process before you can return to work.
- Return-to-duty testing – After you refuse or fail a required DOT drug test, you’ll be removed from your safety-sensitive duties. You must complete a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) evaluation and treatment program. Once you do, you’ll have to complete a directly observed 5-panel RTD urine test before you can return to work for your current employer or any other regulated employer.
- Follow-up testing – Once you complete the SAP program and pass an RTD drug test following a violation, you must undergo follow-up drug tests after you return to work. This includes a minimum of six unannounced tests during the first 12 months and continued follow-up tests for up to five years.
Non-Regulated Private Employees
If your employer isn’t regulated by the DOT, whether you need a 5-panel drug test depends on their drug-free workplace policy.
Many employers condition employment offers on passing a pre-employment drug test. Some also require random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident tests.
To understand your requirements, review your employer’s policy.
What to Expect During a 5-Panel Drug Test
Urine 5-Panel Test Procedure
Urine 5-panel drug tests are the most common drug screening tools used by employers and are required by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for safety-sensitive workers, including CDL drivers.
When your prospective or current employer sends you for a 5-panel urine drug test, you must report immediately to the drug testing site.
You’ll be asked to present your ID upon arrival and then be instructed to remove outer clothing and personal items.
After filling out some paperwork, you’ll go into a private collection bathroom to provide your sample into a clean collection cup. The collector will instruct you not to flush the toilet.
When you’re done, you’ll give the sample to the collector, who will seal and label it in your presence.
If your results are negative, they’ll be provided to your employer within two days. If the results are positive, they can take between three to five days because of confirmatory testing.
Saliva 5-Panel Tests
While the DOT published a final rule in May 2023 to allow regulated employers to use saliva drug tests, this form of drug testing is still not allowed for DOT-regulated employers.
This is because saliva tests can’t begin until the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has certified at least two national labs to process saliva samples.
Private employers can use oral fluid 5-panel drug tests, however.
If you are sent for an oral fluid test, you’ll have to report to the testing center within the time frame required by your employer’s drug-free workplace policy.
When you arrive, you’ll be asked to present your ID. The collector will have you sit in a chair and will then use a swab to swab saliva in your mouth.
The swab will be sealed and labeled in your presence and sent for testing.
Blood 5-Panel Drug Tests
Employers typically don’t use blood 5-panel tests for pre-employment screens.
These tests are typically only used when immediate testing is required to determine whether substance use contributed to an accident.
If you cause an accident at work, you might be required to undergo a blood test.
A medical professional will draw blood that will then be sent to a lab for testing, following a specific chain of custody process.
Hair 5-Panel Drug Tests
Hair drug testing is the least commonly used screening method.
Employers in high-risk industries and those with federal contracts sometimes choose this option because of the long detection window of up to 90 days.
If you are required to undergo hair testing, you’ll be sent to the collection site.
After presenting your ID, the collector will pluck approximately 100 to 120 strands of hair.
If you’re bald, they may pluck hair from another area of your body. Your hair sample will be sealed and labeled in front of you and sent for testing.
How to Read Your 5-Panel Drug Test Results
After you take a 5-panel drug test, the results will normally be available within a few business days.
Here’s what different results mean on your test:
| Result Type | Meaning | Possible Causes | What Happens Next |
| Positive | Drugs or drug metabolites were detected above the cutoff level. | Use of illegal drugs or certain medications/foods (e.g., Sudafed for amphetamines, poppy seeds for opioids). | Considered a failed test. You must complete the Return-to-Duty (RTD) process. |
| Negative | No drugs were detected, or levels were below the cutoff. | No recent drug use or levels too low to trigger a positive. | No further action. You’re cleared for safety-sensitive duties. |
| Refused / Invalid | The test was skipped, tampered with, or the sample was altered or unacceptable. | Refusing to test, adulterating the sample, or submitting an unusable sample. | Treated the same as a failed test. The RTD process is required before returning to duty. |
| Inconclusive | The lab couldn’t determine a clear result due to testing issues. | The sample was too diluted, contaminated, or a lab error occurred. | You’ll need to retake the test with a new sample. |
Any non-negative drug test will lead to a review by a Medical Review Officer (MRO) for confirmation testing before the results are sent to your employer.
The MRO might contact you to learn whether you’ve eaten anything or taken any prescription drugs that could have affected your results.
Tip: You should keep documentation of your prescribed medications that might trigger a false positive. Bring your prescription records with you to the testing site.
What to Do If You Fail a 5-Panel Drug Test
If you refuse or fail a 5-panel drug test and are a regulated, safety-sensitive worker, you must complete the following steps before you will be cleared to return to work:
1. Immediate Removal
You must immediately stop any safety-sensitive work, and your employer must remove you from duty.
2. Employer Report
Your employer will report your failed or refused drug test to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Any potential employer will see these results and won’t be able to hire you until you complete the RTD process.
The results will remain listed in the Clearinghouse for five years or until you complete the RTD process, whichever happens first.
3. Referral to a SAP
Your employer must provide you with a list of DOT-qualified substance abuse professionals (SAPs).
These professionals have deep experience with the DOT drug and alcohol rules, so not any substance abuse counselor will do.
You can also find a DOT-qualified SAP, such as American River Wellness, by searching online.
4. Schedule and Prepare
Schedule your SAP evaluation with the DOT-qualified SAP of your choice.
American River Wellness offers same-day and next-day availability in most cases.
We also offer virtual SAP evaluations to make the process easier for you.
To prepare for your evaluation:
- Refrain from using substances
- Review your employer’s policies
- Read about the SAP process
- Gather documentation about your failed drug test
5. Attend your SAP Evaluation
You’ll meet with your SAP either in person or virtually.
During your evaluation, the SAP will ask you questions about your medical and substance use history, the circumstances surrounding your failed drug test, and more.
Based on their findings, they’ll create a tailored treatment plan for you.
6. Complete the SAP’s Recommendations
The SAP might recommend any of the following, based on your substance use history and other needs:
- Drug and alcohol education classes
- Outpatient individual counseling
- Group counseling
- Inpatient drug rehabilitation (when necessary)
You must complete all of your SAP’s recommendations. Your SAP will monitor your progress.
7. Meet With Your SAP and Undergo an RTD Test
Once you complete all recommendations, you’ll meet with your SAP.
You must complete an RTD drug test under direct observation and receive a negative result.
If the SAP is satisfied, they’ll send a report to your employer and the Clearinghouse that you are safe to return to work.
8. Complete Follow-Up Tests
Whether your employer takes you back or a new regulated employer hires you, you’ll have to undergo follow-up drug tests.
This will include a minimum of six tests during the first 12 months, and you might have to undergo follow-up testing for up to five years.
If you fail a follow-up test, you’ll have to restart the RTD process.
5-Panel Testing Laws You Should Know
Employers that conduct 5-panel drug tests must comply with federal and state laws and regulations, including:
Federal Laws and Regulations
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
When you undergo a pre-employment drug test as part of a background check through a third-party consumer reporting agency (CRA), your employer must comply with the FCRA.
This federal law requires the employer to disclose that they perform background checks and pre-employment drug screens. They also must obtain your signed consent.
If the employer decides not to hire you because of your background check and/or drug test results, they must complete the adverse action process before making a final decision.
DOT Drug Testing Regulations
The DOT’s drug testing rules are found in 49 CFR Part 40. These rules control who must be tested, the various types of required drug tests, when employees must be tested, and the procedures that employers, safety-sensitive workers, and MROs must follow.
Pre-employment 5-panel DOT drug tests are required for safety-sensitive workers regulated by the DOT. If you fail a pre-employment drug test, a DOT-regulated employer can’t hire you.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to administer drug tests to workers in a non-discriminatory manner.
This means that an employer can’t single out a protected class for drug testing versus others based on their race, color, national origin, religion, or gender.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from enforcing different drug testing policies for individuals who aren’t currently using drugs but are in recovery.
People also can’t be punished for undergoing drug rehabilitation.
State and Local Laws
States and municipalities may have their own drug testing rules and policies. To understand these rules, you should talk to an attorney.
While some states have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana use, the DOT continues to prohibit its use by safety-sensitive workers who are regulated by the agency and its administrations.
This means that even if you live in a “legal” state, you can’t use marijuana as a CDL driver.
Failed a 5 Panel Drug Test? Get Back to Work with Help from American River Wellness
If you failed or refused a DOT 5-panel drug test as a CDL driver or another safety-sensitive, regulated worker, you must complete the RTD process to return to your job.
As a DOT-qualified SAP, American River Wellness can help you get back to work fast through our SAP program.
Contact us today to schedule your evaluation and get started: (833) 436-8727.
DISCLAIMER: This information is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. It should not be interpreted as legal counsel or guidance.
FAQ
While 5-panel drug tests don’t test for cannabidiol (CBD), which is the second most prevalent chemical compound found in the cannabis plant, many CBD preparations contain trace amounts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the plant’s psychoactive compound.
5-panel urine tests do test for THC, so it’s possible to fail a DOT drug test because of your use of CBD products.
Because of that, it’s best to avoid using CBD as a regulated, safety-sensitive worker.
No, standard DOT 5-panel drug tests are not directly observed.
However, if the lab site personnel see indicators that you’ve tampered with your sample (temperature outside the range, unusual color or odor, or the presence of an adulterant in your pockets), you’ll have to undergo a directly observed 5-panel drug test.
The observer must be the same gender as you.
They’ll check you to see if you have a device to introduce fake urine. If you do, the test will be halted, and it will count as a refusal.
If you don’t have a device, they will observe as you produce your sample into the provided cup.
Yes, a 5-panel drug test can detect fake urine by checking the following measurements:
– Temperature – Below 90 degrees or above 100 degrees indicates the sample is fake
– Creatinine levels – Look for abnormal creatinine levels
– pH level – Below 4.5 or above 8.0 means the sample is fake
– Uric acid – Concentrations that differ from those found in normal human urine
– Presence of oxidizing agents – These additives are used in fake urine to try to pass drug tests
– Specific gravity – Fake urine frequently has a different specific gravity than real urine
Detection time depends on several factors, like your body weight, metabolism, overall health, how often you use the substance, and the specific drug involved.
The exact window varies from person to person, so there’s no universal timeline.
If you’re a DOT-regulated driver, it’s safest to avoid all prohibited substances altogether.
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