What to Consider When Determining Which Substances to Include in Your Drug Test Panel

By Sharon Bottcher, Director of Policy Services at Current Consulting Group (CCG) Updated by CCG Staff Writer & Editor Adam Hall, August 2022 This information is provided for educational purposes only. Reader retains full responsibility for the use of the information contained herein. A drug test is a technical analysis of a biological specimen to determine the presence or absence of specified parent drugs or their metabolites.  Drug testing does not determine impairment or current drug use.  Rather, it determines if a specified amount of a drug or its metabolite is in the specimen.  The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and various state drug testing laws specifically identify the substances and cut-off levels that employers must incorporate into their testing program. Non-DOT regulated employers or employers in states without drug testing laws may choose both the drug panel and the drug cut-off levels to best fit their company needs. For instance, the DOT requires testing to be conducted according to SAMHSA guidelines, which mandate the five illicit drugs outlined below:

• Amphetamines (meth, speed, crank, MDMA/MDA)
• THC (cannabinoids, marijuana, hash)
• Cocaine (coke, crack)
• Opiates (heroin, codeine, morphine, hydrocodone/hydromorphone, oxycodone/oxymorphone)
• Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust)

This SAMHSA regulated test is commonly referred to as a 5-panel drug test. In addition, the guidelines specify the following drug cut-off levels for the primary substances:

• Amphetamines – Initial:  500 ng/mL    Confirmatory:  250 ng/mL
• THC – Initial:  50 ng/ mL    Confirmatory:  15 ng/mL
• Cocaine – Initial:  150 ng/ mL    Confirmatory:  100 ng/mL
• Opiates – Initial:  2000 ng/ mL    Confirmatory:  2000 ng/mL
• Phencyclidine – Initial:  25 ng/ mL    Confirmatory:  25 ng/mL

As outlined above, many private employers are not limited in the number of substances that can be tested for and some other additional categories may include but not be limited to the following:

• Barbiturates (phenobarbital, butalbital, secobarbital, downers)
• Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers like Valium, Librium, Xanax)
• Methaqualone (Quaaludes)
• Methadone (often used to treat heroin addiction)
• Propoxyphene (Darvon compounds)
• Hallucinogens (LSD, mushrooms, mescaline, peyote)
• Inhalants (paint, glue, hairspray)
• Anabolic steroids (synthesized, muscle-building hormones)
• Hydrocodone (prescription medication known as Lortab, Vicodin, Oxycodone)
• Cotinine (the predominant metabolite of nicotine)

So what determines the substances and cut-off levels for drug testing?  For private (non-regulated) employers, it is based on state law, the nature of the company and company culture.   Some mandatory state laws, such as Kansas and Montana, allow for testing of amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine and requires that the employer follow the SAMHSA required levels for drugs.  While other states such as Hawaii, allow for amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine, barbiturates, methaqualone, benzodiazepines, propoxyphene and methadone. There are voluntary laws that have specific drugs and levels that must be followed in order to qualify for the benefits under the voluntary law.  Alabama defines a drug as amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, phencyclidine (PCP), methadone, methaqualone, opiates, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, propoxyphene, or a metabolite of any of these substances, but doesn’t specify a cut-off level and Arkansas specifically refers to SAMHSA requirements.  Alaska refers to SAMHSA only as a minimum. The nature of the company is also considered when determining the substances of choice that are best suited for a drug testing program.  For instance, if your company is a health care facility or if employees may have access to prescription medications, it may be logical to include additional substances outside of the SAMHSA 5.  Or if your company is in the construction industry, has employees that operate heavy machinery or that are in a position that may be dangerous to themselves or others, it may be reasonable to include an expanded panel as part of the testing program.  However, if a company doesn’t have a business need to include an expanded panel, the SAMHSA 5-panel test would be a sensible choice as part of your company’s drug testing policy. If you are interested in modifying your current program, or in implementing workplace testing, call the experts at Current Consulting Group. Please call us at 954.944.0400. © 2010-2022 The Current Consulting Group, LLC – No portion of this article may be reproduced, retransmitted, posted on a website, or used in any manner without the written consent of the Current Consulting Group, LLC. When permission is granted to reproduce this article in any way, full attribution to the author and copyright holder is required.

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