A 5 panel drug test is the most common test required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) as well as employers who have drug testing policies for non-DOT employees. Wisconsin Drug Testing Consortium (WDTC) makes testing easier by providing access to a nationwide network of 17,000 drug testing centers.

That POINT requires employers and owner/operators to ensure their safety-sensitive employees are drug-free, which is confirmed by pre-employment and spot testing. These tests are known as 5 panel drug testing because they look for drugs in five specific classifications:

• amphetamines
• cocaine
• Marijuana (THC)
• opioids
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

The 5-panel drug test further breaks down the amphetamines and opioids categories into specific drugs, including methamphetamine, codeine, morphine, heroin, oxycodone, and others. While oral drug test may become an option for DOT testing in the near future, the current standard for a 5-panel drug test remains urine testing.

Non-DOT-5 panel drug test results may include more substances

Employers who wish to test their non-DOT employees for the presence of drugs are not bound by the same regulations as DOT employees, also known as covered employees. The test may contain the same five drug classifications as well as additional or substituted substances from those included in the DOT 5 panel drug test.

Use of the 5-panel drug test is not a requirement for non-DOT employees, but is considered best practice. Other best practices for non-DOT employees include random testing, referral to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a return to duty program and follow-up testing, and use of a qualified sample collection service.

DOT testing regulations are standard in the United States, while employers may have different laws for non-DOT employees in the states in which they operate. Employers Must Retain DOT Test Records…