Urine Drug Test: What Am I Being Tested For?
(Panel Codes & Abbreviations Explained)
Introduction
If you’ve ever looked at a urine drug test form, you’ve probably noticed a mix of numbers, abbreviations, and codes printed at the top. For most people, these labels are confusing — but they actually tell you exactly what substances are being screened.
Understanding your test panel helps you know:
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What drugs are included
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Whether THC is being tested
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If extended opioid testing is included
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Whether specimen validation checks are used
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How strict the testing process will be
This guide breaks down common urine drug test panels, lab abbreviations, and real examples so you can understand what your test form actually means.
What Do Drug Test Codes Mean?
Most urine test forms contain two types of identifiers:
1. Billing or Lab Codes
Numbers such as 2480 or 65304N are primarily laboratory billing codes.
They are used internally by labs and usually do not describe the substances tested.
2. Panel Abbreviations (Important Part)
The abbreviations tell you:
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Number of drugs tested
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Drug categories included
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Add-on testing
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Exclusions (such as NO THC)
These are the details you should focus on.
The Standard Urine Drug Test: 5-Panel
The most common workplace drug screen is the 5-panel urine test.
Standard 5-Panel Includes:
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AMP — Amphetamines
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COC — Cocaine
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THC — Marijuana (Cannabinoids)
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OPI — Natural Opiates (Heroin, Morphine, Codeine)
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PCP — Phencyclidine
This panel is widely used for employment screening and federal testing programs.
What Is a 4-Panel Drug Test?
A 4-panel test is NOT standardized — it can vary depending on employer or state rules.
Common 4-Panel Versions
Version 1
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THC
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Cocaine
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Opiates
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Methamphetamine
Version 2
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AMP — Amphetamine
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BZD — Benzodiazepines
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COC — Cocaine
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THC — Marijuana
Version 3 (No THC States or Employers)
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Amphetamines
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Cocaine
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Opiates
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PCP
Some locations exclude marijuana testing entirely.
“NO THC” — What Does It Mean?
You may see labels such as:
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NO THC
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–THC
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XM (Exclude Marijuana)
This means marijuana is NOT included in the screening panel.
This is common in states or workplaces where THC testing is restricted or optional.
Understanding Drug Screen Panel Labels
Example:
2480 – 7DSP/NO THC/PHN
Breakdown:
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7DSP = 7 Drug Screen Panel
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NO THC = Marijuana excluded
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PHN = Additional amphetamine metabolite testing
PHN indicates screening for 4-hydroxynorephedrine, a metabolite used to confirm amphetamine results and reduce false positives.
Example:
5111 – 9DSP/EXP OPI/NO THC/PPX/OXY/ECS/PHN
Meaning:
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9DSP — 9-panel test
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EXP OPI — Extended opiate testing
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NO THC — Marijuana excluded
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PPX — Propoxyphene
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OXY — Oxycodone testing added
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ECS — Ecstasy (MDMA)
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PHN — Expanded amphetamine confirmation
Extended Opiates Include:
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Oxycodone
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Hydrocodone
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Fentanyl (varies by panel)
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Other semi-synthetic opioids
Standard opiate panels only detect natural opiates like heroin, morphine, and codeine.
Add-On Validation Testing (SVT or TestSure)
Many modern tests include specimen integrity checks.
Example:
10SAP (-THC) + SVT
SVT = Specimen Validity Testing
These checks detect tampering or dilution.
SVT Measures:
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CR — Creatinine levels
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GL — Glutaraldehyde
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pH — Acid/alkaline balance
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NI — Nitrites
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OX — Oxidants
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SG — Specific gravity
These confirm the urine sample is genuine and unaltered.
E-Cup Tests (Point-of-Collection Testing)
E-Cups are rapid tests performed immediately at the collection site.
Example:
XCup4-4045 — 4 Panel (No THC)
Typical cutoffs:
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Amphetamines: 500/250 ng/mL
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Cocaine: 150/100 ng/mL
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Opiates: 2000 ng/mL
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PCP: 25 ng/mL
Results are screened instantly before lab confirmation.
Common Quest Diagnostics Panel Examples
4-Panel Tests
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32187N — Cocaine, Amphetamines, Opiates, PCP (No THC)
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65765N SAP4 — Extended opiates + validation testing
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35765N (XM) — 4 panel excluding marijuana
9-Panel Tests
35726N SAP9 w/nit
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Standard 9 drugs
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Includes nitrate testing (detects adulterants)
Example:
8145 – 9DSP / EXP OPI / NOTHC / OXY / 6AM / PHN
Includes:
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Extended opioids
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Oxycodone
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Heroin metabolite testing (6-AM)
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Amphetamine confirmation
-
No THC screening
DOT Drug Test Panels
Department of Transportation testing follows strict federal standards.
Example:
65304N — DOT Drug Panel w/TS
Tests for:
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Amphetamines
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Cocaine
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THC
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Natural opiates
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Semi-synthetic opioids
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Oxycodone/Oxymorphone
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PCP
Includes full specimen validation.
What Are Cutoff Levels?
Sometimes panels list numbers such as:
AMP500 / COC150
These are detection thresholds.
Example:
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Cocaine cutoff 300 ng/mL = standard
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Cocaine cutoff 150 ng/mL = more sensitive test
Lower cutoff = stricter detection.
Common Drug Test Abbreviations
Drug Categories
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AMP — Amphetamines
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BAR — Barbiturates
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BUP — Buprenorphine
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BZO — Benzodiazepines
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COC — Cocaine
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COT — Nicotine (Cotinine)
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ECS / MDMA — Ecstasy
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FEN — Fentanyl
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GHB — Gamma-hydroxybutyrate
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KET — Ketamine
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MET / MAMP — Methamphetamine
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MTD — Methadone
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OPI — Natural opiates
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OXY — Oxycodone
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PCP — Phencyclidine
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PPX — Propoxyphene
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THC — Marijuana metabolites
Special Confirmation Markers
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PHN — Amphetamine metabolite confirmation
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6-AM — Heroin-specific metabolite
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ETG — Alcohol metabolite test
Why Understanding Your Panel Matters
Knowing your exact panel helps you:
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Understand what substances are screened
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Avoid assumptions about THC testing
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Recognize extended opioid panels
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Interpret lab paperwork correctly
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Prepare properly for testing
Many people misunderstand their results simply because they never decoded the panel information.
Conclusion
Urine drug test forms may look complicated, but they follow predictable labeling rules. Once you understand panel numbers, abbreviations, and validation markers, you can quickly determine:
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What drugs are included
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Whether marijuana is tested
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How sensitive the test is
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Whether confirmation or tamper detection is used
Reading the abbreviations — not just the code number — gives you the real answer to “What am I being tested for?”
Over 20 years NEVER a Failed test
