Does Codeine Show Up on a 5-Panel Drug Test?
Evidence-based answer reviewed against SAMHSA cutoffs and FDA assay documentation · Updated August 2026
Quick answer: Yes. A 5-panel drug test includes Codeine (screened around Covered by the standard opiate strip: 2,000 ng/mL morphine/codeine.).
What a 5-panel drug test actually tests for
Here's the full drug list with typical urine cutoffs:
| Drug class | Typical urine cutoff |
|---|---|
| THC (marijuana) | 50 ng/mL urine initial / 15 confirm |
| Cocaine (benzoylecgonine) | 150 / 100 ng/mL |
| Opiates (morphine, codeine, 6-MAM heroin marker) | 2,000 / 2,000 ng/mL |
| Amphetamines (mixed amphetamine salts class) | 500 / 250 ng/mL |
| PCP | 25 / 25 ng/mL |
| Codeine | ✅ Detected |
Who uses this panel
The federal standard since the Reagan era — still the DOT-mandated panel for CDL drivers, aviation, maritime and other safety-sensitive work.
What candidates should know
Lean's codeine lands squarely on the classic opiate panel — this is one street drug standard testing catches without any expansion.
Promethazine itself isn't screened, but it can flag old-generation amphetamine screens as a false positive; confirmation sorts it out.
Prescription codeine (codeine-acetaminophen tablets, cough syrup) verifies via MRO like any opioid script.
Not on this panel? Read this
Absence from a panel means absence of testing — not safety. Specialty orders, expanded cups, probation panels and sports programs reach further. If your situation involves court supervision, treatment programs or safety-sensitive certification, assume wider coverage.
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Does Promethazine Show up on a Drug Test?
Yes — Codeine appears on standard drug panels. Full guide →
Can Codeine Cause a False Positive Drug Test?
Can Codeine trigger a false positive? Cross-reactivity evidence, confirmation testing, and how to clear your name with the MRO. Full guide →
How Long Does Codeine Show up in a Drug Test?
How long Codeine stays detectable in your system (all test types) — urine, hair, saliva & blood windows explained with cutoffs. Full guide →
How Long Does Codeine Stay in Urine Drug Test?
How long Codeine stays detectable in urine — urine, hair, saliva & blood windows explained with cutoffs. Full guide →
Does Codeine Show up on a 5 Panel Drug Test?
Yes — Codeine sits on standard 5/10/12-panel screens. Prescription? Declare it for MRO verification.
Do prescriptions count against me?
No — verified prescriptions report as negative through the Medical Review Officer. Declare medications at collection and answer the follow-up call.
Sources & further reading
- SAMHSA — Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (cutoffs, MRO process)
- DOT — 49 CFR Part 40 procedures for transportation workplace testing
- Brahm NC et al., Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2008;83(1):66–76 — false-positive cross-reactivity reference
- FDA — drug-of-abuse test device labeling (detection window conventions)