The five panel urine drug test (5 Panel Drug Test) is one of the most common drug tests utilized in the United States. This panel is used for employment drug testing, probation drug testing and court ordered drug testing. This panel is testing for Marijuana (THC), Cocaine, Amphetamines, Opiates, and Phencyclidine (PCP).
Additional variations of the drugs listed above can be included in the five panel drug test such as:
- For Opioids: Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, and Oxymorphone and also Codeine, Morphine and 6-AM (heroin).
- For Amphetamines including Methamphetamine, MDMA, and MDA
What are Cutoff Levels in Drug Testing?
Cutoff levels are utilized by instant test kits and by laboratories to determine if a specimen is positive for the particular metabolite of the specific drug when the specimen tests at or above the cut off level. The specimen is usually urine, oral fluid or hair. When a specimen tests at or above the cutoff level for initial testing, the specimen then goes into a second round of testing called confirmation testing to pinpoint the exact drug and exact metabolites present. Again, anything at or above the cutoff level is considered positive. Cutoffs levels for non-regulated testing can vary from lab to lab.’
Cutoffs levels for instant or rapid test kits can vary from one manufacturer to another. Always check the manufacturer specifications when using instant or drug rapid test kits. With instant or rapid testing, the positive result on the initial testing requires then that the specimen to then go to the laboratory for the confirmation testing.
Confirmation testing uses a definitive method such as chromatography-mass spectrometry (e.g., GC-MS, LC-MS/MS), that specifically identifies and quantifies the drug/metabolite in the specimen. With confirmation testing there is a definitive positive at or above the cutoff level.
Standard cutoff levels for 5 panel drug test urine specimen
|
Drug Metabolite |
Initial Cutoff Level |
Confirmation Test Level |
|
Marijuana metabolites |
50 ng/mL |
15 ng/mL |
|
Phencyclidine (PCP) |
25 ng/mL |
25 ng/mL |
|
Cocaine metabolites |
150 ng/mL |
100 ng/mL |
|
Amphetamines Amphetamine Methamphetamine |
500 ng/mL |
250 ng/mL 250 ng/mL |
|
MDA-analogues MDA MDMA |
500 ng/mL |
250 ng/mL 250 ng/mL |
|
Opiates Codeine Morphine |
500 ng/mL |
250 ng/mL 250 ng/mL |
|
6-Acetylmorphine (6AM – Heroin) |
10 ng/mL |
10 ng/mL |
|
Opiates (semi-synthetic) Hydromorphone Hydrocodone |
300 ng/mL |
100 ng/mL 100 ng/mL |
|
Oxycodones Oxymorphone Oxycodone |
100 ng/mL |
100 ng/mL 100 ng/mL |
Standard cutoff levels for 5 panel drug test hair specimen:
Drug Metabolite | Initial Cutoff Level | Confirmation Test Level |
Marijuana metabolites | 1.0 pg/mg | 0.1 pg/mg |
Phencyclidine (PCP) | 300 pg/mg | 300 pg/mg |
Cocaine metabolites Benzoylecgonine | 500 pg/mg 500 pg/mg | 500 pg/mg 500 pg/mg |
Amphetamines Amphetamine Methamphetamine | 500 pg/mg | 500 pg/mg 500 pg/mg |
MDA-analogues MDA MDMA | 500 pg/mg | 500 pg/mg 500 pg/mg |
Opiates Codeine Morphine | 200 pg/mg | 200 pg/mg 200 pg/mg |
6-Acetylmorphine (6AM – Heroin) | 200 pg/mg | 200 pg/mg |
Opiates (semi-synthetic) Hydromorphone Hydrocodone | 200 pg/mg | 200 pg/mg |
Oxycodones Oxymorphone Oxycodone | 200 pg/mg | 200 pg/mg 200 ng/mL |
Oral fluid cutoff levels are lower than urine because of the concentration of drug metabolite in the oral fluid. For marijuana, the parent drug is being testing when oral fluid is the specimen. The use of oral fluid will provide a drug test result of more recent drug use perhaps going back a few hours to a day or two.
Standard cutoff levels for 5 panel drug test oral fluid specimen:
Drug Metabolite | Initial Cutoff Level | Confirmation Test Level |
Marijuana metabolites | 3 ng/mL | 1.5 ng/mL |
Phencyclidine (PCP) | 3 ng/mL | 1.5 ng/mL |
Cocaine metabolites | 15 ng/mL | 15 ng/mL |
Amphetamines Methamphetamine | 150 ng/mL 120 ng/mL | 150 ng/mL 120 ng/mL |
Opiates: Codeine, Morphine | 30 ng/mL | 30 ng/mL |
6-Acetylmorphine (6AM – Heroin) | 30 ng/mL | 3 ng/mL |
Opiates (semi-synthetic) Hydromorphone & Hydrocodone | 30 ng/mL | 30 ng/mL |
Oxycodones: Oxymorphone & Oxycodone | 30 ng/mL | 30 ng/mL |
