Currently, 33 states have legalized the use of marijuana that contains THC. For this reason, employers in these states have been looking for a 10 panel drug test excluding THC. Drug screening is a great way of ensuring that your employees are not currently using any forms of illegal substances. There are many reasons why drug testing benefits a business.

What Is a 10 Panel Drug Test 

Normally, a 10 Panel Drug Test will determine whether or not an employee is under the influence of the 10 most common drugs that they could be using. This form of drug testing uses a person’s urine to locate traces of illegal drugs. Why? As drugs leave the body as urine, they leave evidence that can be viewed in the urine sample. This method of drug screening is more reliable than other methods, such as saliva testing. In some cases, blood or hair can be used to test for drug use. Even so, the 10 panel drug test remains the quickest, easiest way to find out if an employee is using illegal drugs. 

What Drugs a 10 Panel Drug Test Finds 

A 10 panel drug test typically tests for five prescription drugs and five street drugs. If you exclude THC, this test will locate the use of: 

• Individual drugs (these drugs, such as  PCP, methadone, propoxyphene, and methaqualone do not fit into any other category) 
• Barbiturates (such as secobarbital, phenobarbital, phenobarbital, and amobarbital) 
• Amphetamines (such as meth, speed, Ritalin, and Adderall) 
• Benzodiazepines  (such as Valium, Xanax, and Ativan)
• Opioids (such as smoked opium, codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and heroin) 
• Cocaine (such as crack cocaine) 

In some cases, drug screening with a 10 panel drug test can find traces of drugs that were used days ago.  In others, this method of drug testing will be able to tell you if an employee has used in the past 72 hours. This is why many employers choose to randomly test employees. If an employee is aware of the space of time they need to be clean, they will have more time to attempt a detox. 

At-Home Drug Testing vs Random Drug Testing

Some employers may choose to send a drug test home with an employee because it is “easier.” However, by sending a drug test home with an employee, you are giving them more ways to tamper with their results. Randomly drug testing employees does not give them time to prepare to “fake” the results of their drug test. This method will prevent cheating drug test results with methods like substituting urine, using fake urine, drinking water, or using a sauna detox. 

Benefits of Drug Testing

An employee suffering from a drug addiction will not only prove to be less efficient at their job, but less reliable. This is due to illegal drugs lowering their cognition and functioning. If word of your company employing a drug user gets out, it can negatively impact your business’s reputation. Company morale will drastically fall, as employees will feel frustrated that they cannot rely on their peer who is abusing illegal substances. 

A company that screens their employees will avoid these issues. A drug-free business will experience fewer employee absences and less of a potential for workplace accidents. With all of its benefits, you may be wondering how you can gain access to a 10 panel drug test. 

Reliable 10 Panel Drug Testing 

Soteria Screening Laboratories offers you access to a wide variety of drug tests, such as a 10 panel and 9 panel drug test. These tests are affordable and can be done in any of our 10,000-plus facilities in the United States. With a company account, you can receive a discount on drug tests and real-time status updates of your test. Testing for drugs with Soteria Screening Laboratories will guarantee that you receive fast, trustworthy results.