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What Drugs Are on a 10-Panel Drug Test?

The 10-panel drug test expands beyond the standard 5-panel to cover prescription drug abuse and additional controlled substances. Here's what it screens for.

Scott Galing

Scott Galing

President, Do It Right Screening — 30+ years of industry experience

The 10-Panel Test: Beyond the Federal Standard

The DOT-mandated 5-panel test covers the most commonly abused street drugs. But for many employers — especially those in healthcare, financial services, or safety-sensitive industries — a broader panel that also covers prescription drug misuse makes more sense.

The 10-panel test includes all 5 panels from the standard test plus five additional substance categories.

All 10 Panels

The Standard 5 (Same as 5-Panel)

  1. Marijuana (THC) — cannabis and related compounds
  2. Cocaine — cocaine metabolites
  3. Opiates — morphine, codeine, heroin metabolites
  4. Amphetamines — amphetamine and methamphetamine
  5. Phencyclidine (PCP) — angel dust

The Additional 5

  1. Benzodiazepines — Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, and related sedatives. One of the most commonly abused prescription drug categories.
  2. Barbiturates — Phenobarbital, Seconal, and similar sedative-hypnotics
  3. Methadone — used in opioid treatment programs; can be misused independently
  4. Propoxyphene — an opioid painkiller (Darvon, Darvocet); less common today
  5. Methaqualone (Quaalude) — a sedative; rare but included in standard 10-panel configurations

Note: Some providers substitute methaqualone with MDMA (ecstasy) or expand opioids to include hydrocodone and oxycodone depending on the panel configuration.

When to Choose a 10-Panel Over a 5-Panel

A 10-panel test makes sense when:

  • Healthcare employees: Have access to prescription medications including benzodiazepines and opioids
  • Employees in safety-sensitive positions: Where prescription drug impairment poses significant risk
  • Any employer concerned about prescription drug misuse: The opioid epidemic has made this a growing workplace concern

MRO Review Is Critical for 10-Panel Tests

The additional substances on a 10-panel test — particularly benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and methadone — are frequently prescribed legitimately. MRO review is essential to avoid verified positives for employees taking lawful medications.

Customizing Your Panel

Employers can work with their screening provider to customize panels beyond the standard 10. Common additions include:

  • Oxycodone/hydrocodone expanded opioids — not fully covered in standard opiate panel at standard cutoffs
  • Buprenorphine — used in opioid treatment
  • Fentanyl — increasingly relevant given the fentanyl crisis

At Do It Right Screening, we offer 5-panel, 10-panel, and customized panels through our laboratory partners. Contact us to discuss which panel configuration is right for your workforce.