What is on a 4-panel drug test?
A 4-panel drug test typically covers cocaine, opiates, amphetamines/methamphetamine, and PCP — the federal "SAMHSA-5" without THC. It is the most common configuration for employers in jurisdictions that restrict cannabis testing or for narrow-scope screening contexts.
What's in a 4-panel
Cutoff levels
| Analyte | Screen | Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Benzoylecgonine | 150 ng/mL | 100 ng/mL |
| Opiates (morphine, codeine) | 2000 ng/mL | 2000 ng/mL |
| Amphetamines + methamphetamine | 500 ng/mL | 250 ng/mL |
| PCP | 25 ng/mL | 25 ng/mL |
- Cannabis (THC) is typically excluded from this configuration; verify with the testing provider.
When a 4-panel makes sense
- Cannabis-restricted jurisdictions: States and municipalities that limit pre-employment cannabis testing (subject to safety-sensitive exceptions) — see cannabis and state law.
- Narrow-scope programs: Where the employer is targeting only the most prevalent classes of substance use risk.
- Industry-specific configurations: Where a specific class is treated under a separate program (e.g., alcohol via breath testing).
Limits of the 4-panel
Dropping THC from the panel does not change the rest of the test's accuracy or framework. But it does mean cannabis use is not detected, which has implications for safety-sensitive contexts where the employer's program needs to account for impairment risk (acknowledging that all drug tests, including THC tests, are not measures of impairment).
Sources & references
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