Drug testing is one of the inevitable routine steps in the pre-employment process. Using drugs in the job space can cause multiple accidents, put others’ lives and security at stake, there could be conflicts, numerous liability issues, and so much more. With early identification of drug abuse, employment can be made more fair, and the process becomes steady and accurate.

All You Need to Know About 10 Panel Drug Testing

As the name suggests, a 10-panel drug testing in Washington DC can screen for ten types of illegal substances in an individual’s blood. This test mostly screens for prescription drugs like Xanax and several others. A 10-panel drug test can be used for the presence of opiate types drugs. However, the 10-panel drug test cannot screen for alcohol presence in the blood.

The 10-panel drug test will test for and identify unique metabolites in the body that are remnants after the catalytic breakdown of the drugs. Here is a list of some of the standard drug types whose remnant metabolites can be traced by a 10-panel drug test:

• Amphetamines (Ritalin or crystal meth)

• Cocaine and Crack Cocaine

• Phencyclidine (Angel dust)

• Barbiturates

• Marijuana

• Opiates (hydrocodone, oxycodone)

• Methadone

• Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax)

• Propoxyphene

• Opiates derivatives like oxymorphone, codeine, and so on

One central question regarding this drug detection test is how long drugs can be detected in the body. It could be that a drug abuser escapes the test just because of the timing of the test. The time until the drug metabolites remain in the body depends on the type of drug used. Drugs like Marijuana can be detected in the urine sample of the regular marijuana smoker even several weeks after smoking. However, occasional Marijuana smokers almost have no detectable THC in their system after a few days of smoking. The drug testing results are usually available within three days of sample collection but may vary. A trained Medical Review Officer reviews the drug test results for better understanding and reflection on the results.

State Laws Related to 10-Panel Drug Testing

Here are some of the laws related to Drug Testing which are operational and enforceable in the context of 10-panel drug testing in Washington, DC:

Employers can always conduct drug testing on employees because no law in the United States bars them. It is ideal for the employee and the employer to check the drug testing policies of a company to avoid any future collisions:

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act 

Prohibits employers from using drug testing for practicing social discrimination practices based on the sex, religion, or nationality of a person.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) 

Makes drug testing a mandatory pre-employment check process to comply with the drug use policies of the company

Drug-Free Workplace Act

 No workplace in America should entertain drug abusers as employees who can put others’ safety at stake. This law allows employers to conduct drug testing and take necessary actions based on the same reports.

National Labor Relations Act

Employers and employees should negotiate and comply with a standard drug testing program which can be facilitated through the worker unions in the company.

Final Thoughts

Getting employees screened for drugs in their bodies is mandatory for various organizations. For example, it is most prominently used in screening employees in the automobile industry. 10-panel drug tests are also quite common during the pre-employment screening process. The recruitment agencies ensure trustworthy employment screening for hospitals before recommending candidates to an organization. This pre-employment screening process is used in sectors like law enforcement, government employees, the driving industry, and construction sites where drug abuse by the person can hamper the safety of others.