Probation Drug Testing - info-hero

Court Ordered Probation

See All Drug Tests

If you’re a court manager or a probation officer tasked with organizing court-ordered drug testing, Health Street can help. Courts will often order a series of drug tests as a condition of pre-trial services. Probation drug testing varies, based on the individual’s offense and the court’s determination. The most common court-ordered tests include the 5 panel, 10 panel, urine alcohol, and EtG alcohol screenings. These tests detect alcohol or commonly abused street and prescription drugs.

Health Street provides highly accurate drug and alcohol testing that meets pre-trial or probation requirements. We can report test results directly to the probation officer or the court.

Register at (888) 407-7650 for a urine or hair follicle drug and/or alcohol probation test.

Types of Drugs Screened and Detection Periods

Health Street offers a wide range of drug testing options. The most common are the panel urine tests, and among these, court systems typically choose a 5 panel, 10 panel or 12 panel tests. You can also order an EtG urine alcohol test, hair follicle test, or PEth alcohol test, which has a three-week detection period. Each type of drug and alcohol test is indicated for a specific need, and Health Street can help you to determine the best drug testing for your purposes.

The drugs screened and detection periods are as follows:

5 Panel

The 5 panel drug test checks for commonly used drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, basic opiates (heroin, morphine, and codeine), phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamines such as methamphetamine. The detection period for everything except marijuana (THC) is 3-7 days. THC can be found in a person’s bloodstream for as long as a month, especially if they are a heavy user.

10 Panel

Our 10 panel drug screen adds Methaqualone (quaaludes), methadone, Benzodiazepines, Propoxyphene and barbiturates, which include popular prescription drugs like Xanax, Klonopin, Darvocet, Darvon and Seconal.

12 Panel

In the 12 panel drug test, we screen for additional opiates that include oxycontin, Percocet, hydrocodone and oxycodone) and additional amphetamines such as ecstasy, molly and MDMA.

EtG Urine Alcohol

The EtG test can detect the presence of ethyl glucuronide, which is a product created by the breakdown of ethanol in the body. This indicates recent alcohol consumption within the past 80 hours.

Hair Follicle

Hair testing provides a longer detection window than other types of drug tests—up to 90 days. This test can detect many kinds of drugs in addition to alcohol. We offer various types of panel hair drug tests and hair alcohol tests.

PEth Alcohol

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is created in the body whenever a person consumes alcohol. Long after the alcohol is gone, PEth stays in the blood and can be detected. PEth tests indicate if someone has used alcohol daily in the past three weeks, or if they have had binges. It doesn’t detect light drinking.


We work with our court system clients to determine the most appropriate test for their situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

When working with a defendant during their pre-trial hearing or a convicted offender to satisfy the conditions of their probation program, you may encounter questions regarding the drug screening requirements.

How Often Does Court-Ordered Drug Testing Happen for Probation?

When used to determine if someone is staying away from drugs or alcohol, as a condition of their probation, the court will usually order random drug testing. Typically, there will be a certain length of time indicated.

How Do Court-Ordered Drug Tests Work?

Court systems typically use urine drug testing. This test can detect recent use of most drugs, is highly effective, and is the least invasive in terms of specimen collection.

While your drug testing requirements may be somewhat different, based on your history and your offense, typical probation drug testing procedures are as follows:

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Drug testing is ordered by the court. Your probation officer or the judge in your case orders random probation drug tests (usually weekly). The types of drugs use you will be tested for depends on your history of substance abuse, the offense, and the court jurisdiction.

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A drug screening schedule is initiated. You must set up a drug testing schedule with a screening agency that is in compliance with the court testing order or terms of your probation. Health Street works extensively with court officials across the country.

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Random testing will likely be required. You may have to call a number daily to check your color status. The random color code system is a method frequently used by courts to determine when someone needs to take a drug test. You will be given a color and directed to call the court every day to see if it your turn to be tested. If your color is chosen on that day, you must report for a test immediately. Health Street is extremely convenient, since we have drug testing centers across the U.S.


If you don’t have a color code, you may be ordered by your probation officer to submit to random testing. In this case, you must schedule the testing right away.

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Report to the nearest collection facility. After showing your identification, you will provide a specimen for testing purposes, which will usually be urine.

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Await test results and any further instructions. Depending on your test results, you may have to be retested.

If your result comes back positive, you will hear from a Medical Review Officer (MRO), who is a toxicology expert that reviews all test results. They may ask for proof of any legal prescriptions that you may be taking or to explain any other circumstances that may result in an erroneous positive result.

Do Probation Officers Enforce Drug Testing?

Test results can be emailed or faxed to a court director during pre-trial services, your probation officer, or anywhere else you choose, at no extra charge. If you are ordering the test yourself, you simply choose where you want us to send the results. You can do this online or by phone.

Where Must I Go for My Drug Test?

There are typically consequences if a person fails their court-ordered drug test while on probation. The courts take any probation violations seriously. After a positive drug test result, they may be subject to harsher restrictions, required to enroll in a drug rehab program, or even sent to jail. If a drug test is failed, the individual’s probation period might also be extended.

Why choose Health Street for your court-ordered probation drug testing?

Health Street works closely with court systems to deliver exceptionally reliable drug and alcohol testing services that comply with state requirements.

We offer:

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Affordable drug testing services
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Reliable drug and alcohol tests
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Convenient, SAMHSA certified drug testing centers
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All results reviewed by MROs
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Ongoing status alerts
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Fast, secure results in our online portal

Call today to schedule our court-ordered drug and alcohol tests.