CBD may not show up in your 5-panel drug test but if consumed in large amounts, it may show up as THC (significant metabolite of MMJ) during your drug test. The 5-panel drug test, also known as a five-panel screening, is most commonly used in workplace drug testing for screening employees. It is used to screen for the major illicit drugs in the United States - MMJ (THC), cocaine (COC), opiates (OPI), amphetamines (AMP), and PCP.
It's not uncommon for people that use CBD oil to wonder if it will show up on a 5-panel drug test. However, the answer to this question is likely to be negative. To understand what this means, it's essential to know how a 5-panel drug test works.
Furthermore, let's learn what a 5-panel drug test is and what it does to help you figure out if CBD will show up on your 5-panel drug test.
Table Of Contents:
- 5-Panel Drug Test: The Basis Behind It
- What Are The Components Of Cannabidiol (CBD)?
- Does CBD Show Up In A 5-Panel Drug Test?
5-Panel Drug Test: The Basis Behind It
The 5-panel drug test for screening employees detect the use of MMJ, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP. It is also referred to as a 5 Panel Drug Screen. It is the most common type of drug test in the United States.
The 5-panel drug test, or 5-panel drug screen, is a scientifically valid and reliable procedure for detecting drugs of abuse. It is an immunoassay based on the principle of competitive binding. A urine drug test sample is used to identify and quantify the parent compound of illicit drugs.
A 5-panel drug test is based on the fact that drugs are detectable in urine for varying amounts of time. Upon using a drug, the body metabolizes it – converting it into another chemical substance. This substance is excreted from the body in the urine. The substance may stay in your urine for a period of time, say 2 to 4 weeks based on the drug metabolite and their composition. If the parrticular person have the substance metabolites less than the cut-off levels, he would test negative for drugs.
It is why a negative test result on a 5-panel drug test does not necessarily mean that a person has never used a drug. It simply means that they might have lesser cut-off levels of the substance during the drug test.
It also means that a positive result on a 5-panel drug test does not mean that the user had recently used the drug detected in their urine sample. It simply means that they had used the drug detected in their urine sample at least once in the time frame covered by the test.
When the 5-panel drug test is used, it estimates the amount of drug in a user's system to provide a urine sample for testing. In the United States, urine is preferred over other methods, such as hair and sweat. Urine can be collected more conveniently and less invasive than many alternative specimen types.
Urine tests can also be conducted rapidly, helping to facilitate timely decisions about the suitability of employees in safety-sensitive positions, such as aviation pilots and commercial truck drivers.
What Are The Components Of Cannabidiol (CBD)?
CBD or Cannabidiol, is one of the various components found in MMJ. Rather than producing a 'high' effect, CBD acts as an anti-nausea. CBD is the most prominent non-psychoactive component of marijuana.
Cannabidiol (CBD) looks like a pair of components found together in nature. However, this does not mean that these two molecules are found together in every species on Earth.
When consumed, the byproduct created by CBD reacts with the enzymes in the liver. It causes CBD to be transformed into an acid called a metabolite. The metabolite is then excreted through the urine and carried out of the body.
However, it's essential to note that some CBD oil products contain additional ingredients and byproducts. These include hemp seed oil and terpenes that may also be present in the finished product.
It is usually the result of CBD products that have not been refined or filtered before use. An excellent example of this is CBD oil in food, like biscuits. CBD oil would usually be added to the product as an ingredient.
However, some manufacturing processes will not allow all ingredients to be completely filtered out, leaving some residual.
Does CBD Show Up In A 5-Panel Drug Test?
The answer to this question is "no." However, it's important to remember that a 5-panel drug test isn't designed to detect CBD. As mentioned above, it's designed to detect and identify the parent compounds of illegal substances like MMJ, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP.
The parent compounds detected in a 5-panel drug test are then converted into metabolites by the body. The metabolites can be seen in urine for varying amounts of time. In the case of CBD, the metabolites are detected in the urine for much less time than compounds such as the presence of THC.
It means that a 5-panel drug test will not detect CBD metabolites from the consumption of CBD oil. In addition to this, it's essential to know that the amount of time CBD will remain in your urine following use depends on how you take it.
Moreover, this does not mean that CBD oil is entirely safe and non-detectable in a 5-panel drug test. The same goes for other products that have been created to contain cannabinoids like CBD oil.
The point is to look at the specific substances and their ratios in each product when deciding what to use. Some studies show that most CBD will be excreted in a user's urine for up to 10 days after taking it orally.
However, other research shows that if you inhale, ingest or apply an ointment containing CBD topically, approximately 50% of the compound will be eliminated from your urine within 72 hours.
The percentage of CBD eliminated can vary depending on several factors such as:
- The dosage that was taken.
- The time frame in which the CBD oil was taken.
- The dosing method is oral, inhaling, or topical application.
- The user's metabolic rate, weight, and gender also impacted how long the compound was detectable.
- The other cannabis, if any, present in the CBD oil or other products containing CBD.
- The specific 5-panel drug test that is being used.
The potency of a given product will also bear how long the metabolites are detectable in your urine. For example, when a sample was sent to a lab to be tested for CBD content, researchers found no traces of CBD found in urine samples taken 2 hours after ingesting a product with only 1% of the compound present.
This lowered level of substance can be attributed to the product's lack of oil content, and the time it took for it to be metabolized. In a nutshell, if you have a 5-panel drug test, you cannot expect to pass just by taking CBD from an oil or edible form.
Having traces of CBD in your urine could raise red flags indicating that you may have used marijuana. It is also essential to observe that some states in the US have legalized CBD products while others still do not allow them.
Conclusion
In summary, CBD oil and products are legal in several states where MMJ is not. However, if you're looking to take them as a way of avoiding a 5-panel drug test, you may want to reconsider.
It is because tests that are designed to detect the levels of THC and its metabolites look for these compounds and not CBD. So, in theory, you can consume CBD products before taking a 5-panel drug test and passing.
However, this does not mean that other substances like CBD aren't still detectable in your urine. They could be indicative of use and will result in more questions from the test administrator. It could ultimately lead to an oral swab being taken from you when all you wanted was to avoid providing a urine sample.
Therefore, CBD is designed to be non-psychoactive and doesn't produce a 'high,' it can still raise red flags during a 5-panel drug test.
FAQ
What is the detection period for CBD?
The detection period for CBD is shorter than the detection period for the amount of THC content and its metabolites. This fact alone does not mean that you shouldn't take CBD before a 5-panel drug test. The reality is that the time frame in which your urine will be tested for CBD use can vary depending on multiple factors.
Therefore, it's essential to ensure that you have as much information as possible when deciding whether or not to use it.
Why do some companies say their CBD products are "99% non-detectable"?
Since there is no federal law for CBD oil, you will find that some companies use a high "potency" or "high concentration" of CBD in their products to achieve a state of almost total non-detectability.
Some companies claim that their product contains 99% pure CBD with only trace amounts present, while others claim it includes 99% THC-free CBD oils with just trace amounts present. Only a laboratory can perform and confirm the exact amount of CBD and THC-free cannabinoids in each product.
