Do they test for Ritalin in a 5 panel drug test?

Yes and No. There are two things to consider. The first is TIME and the second is CHEMICAL COMPOSITION.

Chemically, I think it does. First, according to this advertisement

http://www.meditests.com/mulurtesopco.HTML

THC (marijuana), Cocaine (Crack), Methamphetamine (Ecstasy), Amphetamine, and Opiates (Morphine/vicodin/percocet/heroin/prescription pain killers/etc.) all show up on the five panel drug test.

While Ritalin is not actually methamphetamine or amphetamine, it IS methylphenidate. Methylphenidate "looks" a lot like amphetamine AND cocaine (benzoylmethylecogine) The test probably tests for the metabolites of aromatic compounds, rather than the actual presence of these drugs in your system (unless you get a blood test). My guess is that if the substances are similar in nature to begin with, then they probably get degraded to common compounds. Which means, it probably would show up if you took enough of the drug. Just what is "enough" depends upon how much you weight, where that weight comes from (sorry fatties, but drugs like living in the extra non-polar lipid bundles around your waist), how active you are, and MOST IMPORTANTLY,

TIME!

Ritalin gets metabolized beyond therapeutic efficacy within 24 hours. It's virtually all out of your system after 48 hours, and if you go the distance...say 96 hours, it's fully out of your system. No doubt.

There is no actual way to "fail" or "pass" a drug test. It all depends upon what your employer/drug officer/wife..don't ask is concerned about. If you say you take Ritalin to help with school, chances are they won't get too concerned with a positive test for amphetamines. That said, don't be stupid and smoke weed and think you can get away with it just because you take Ritalin. That's completely different.

Lastly, if you're still concerned, call the drug testing company up, pretend to be an employer who wants to drug test an employee who you think is abusing Ritalin, and ask if they are able to detect it, and if so, say "the employee doesn't work Friday-Sunday, but they're "over the top" on Monday" and that you've heard them discuss abusing drugs with other employees, etc. fill in the blanks. hope this helps.