Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 109

False Positives Forum

This forum is intended to help those who Do NOT Abuse Drugs. We do NOT support the illegal use of any substance. If you have experience with false positives, share your experience. What would you tell someone about drug testing and false positives? Please remember that we do not give medical or legal advice.

Subj: Positive for Meth
Date: 12/1/2010
I’m very confused. I take levothyroxine. Claritin d. Albuteral. And Citalopram. I come up with a positive for Meth in my u.a.s sometimes but I so do not use Meth. Can any of these meds show Meth in a urinalysis? ?? If not then I have no clue y I come up positive on occasion and I’m screwed.

Theresa

AskDocWeb: Not necessarily Theresa, although none of what you take is on the list, there is still a possibility of a false positive. If you can get a GC/MS confirmation test to show just one false positive, that casts doubt on the results of tests taken after that one.

Subj: Pre-employment drug screen
Date: 12/1/2010
Does seroquel, sertraline, tramadol all three in low doses show up on a preemployment drug screen?

JM

AskDocWeb: The only one of those that has shown up in the research is sertraline. According to the University of Maryland Counseling Center sertraline has shown up as a false positive for benzodiazepines.

Subj: GC/MS tested positive for cocaine
Date: 12/1/2010
I am on a long list of medications and hsve random drug tests thru DCS (Department of child Services) and recently tested positive for cocaine. I do not use street drugs at all. Can you give me a list of medications that could make me test positive? I have been sick and have been taking both prescribed meds and OTC meds. I should also add that the test they use is a GC/MS test. Please help as this will look extremly bad in court and I am 100% positive that I have not done any cocaine. Thank You,

Shannon

AskDocWeb: If the GC/MS test showed cocaine then it was not a false positive. You don’t actually have to “do” cocaine for it to get into your system. If someone you come into contact with uses it, the drug is known to be absorbed through the skin.

Subj: Jason’s question about smoking moved here.

Subj: Chocolate from Peru?
Date: 12/1/2010
I tested positive for cocaine at work even though I have never used it. The only thing I did differently then the previous 17 years I have tested negative was eat some chocolate that a friend brought back from Peru. Could that have caused a positive test? And if so who will test the chocolate and see if it contains something that would give a positive test result?

Ellen

AskDocWeb: We can only think of three possibilities, the crime lab at your local police department, a toxicology lab, or your State Forensic Examiner may be able to help you out.

Subj: Tested positive for oxazepam
Date: 12/2/2010
I was tested positive for oxazepam I have never taken it. I take Alprazalom I ask the place I get all my meds from he said it might show up oxazepam talking about the alprazalom. I called the place of employment that was getting ready to hire me but now they are not going to hire me. I told them what the person that fills my meds said so they are going to research but I would like help so I can come back with the facts.

PSpruill

AskDocWeb: We don’t have any references on that possibility. You might check back with the place that you get your meds to see if they can point you to any documentation that would help. Alprazalom is more commonly spelled Alprazolam (Brand names: Niravam, Xanax).

Subj: Zyrtec
Date: 12/2/2010
Tested positive for amphetamines and the only thing I can link it to is Zyrtec over counter with cetirizine HCL 10mg. I do also take over the counter workout supplements. Any ideas if the Zyrtec can cause positive test. I’ve heard yes and no.

Junior

AskDocWeb: It is the pseudoephedrine in Zyrtec that may cause a false positive for amphetamines or speed (Ref: 3, 11, 18, 21, 30).

Subj: Urine drug test
Date: 12/3/2010
I used a drink to cover up marijuana use for a drug test. Can I put treated urine to the side and use it for a later drug test? Will it work to pass another test at a later date?

B

AskDocWeb: Sorry B, these pages are for those who don’t abuse drugs.

Subj: I had no idea
Date: 12/3/2010
I am thankful to find that I am not the only one who has had this happen to them. Unfortunately, the false positive I got caused me to have my children taken out of my home. Until this happened to me, I had no idea that this was even possible. Thank you very much, the information I found here on your site will certainly help me in regards to my situation.

J

Subj: Bactrim?
Date: 12/3/2010
I failed a drug test for barbitchuits, can it be from taking BACTRIM?

Ryan

AskDocWeb: Bactrim has not been reported to show up as a false positive for anything on urine drug tests.

Subj: Tested positive for methamphetamines
Date: 12/3/2010
I was tested positive for methampethamines in the ER, however I’m not taking this drug. I am taking suboxone, and took a tramadol for pain. Is it possible to test positive for this? I was really embarrassed and dont think they believed me.

Karoline

AskDocWeb: Neither of those drugs have shown up as a false positive but that doesn’t rule out the possibility of a false positive. Sometimes those urine tests are just wrong without an identifiable reason. Remember that a urine test is not proof of drug abuse. It is just an indication of that possibility. A confirmation test would settle this question one way or another.

Subj: I did not get the job
Date: 12/3/2010
I was given a pre employment drug test that came back positive for Oxazepam I have never taken that drug. I was called and ask to bring from my drug store a list of drugs I have had or take. So I did and I have been taking xanax which I have on the list from my doctor. So how could I test positive when I never took that drug before? I did not get the job I had been trying to get so bad because of this I need to know what I can do?

Pspruill

AskDocWeb: You can request a confirmation test be done to prove your innocence and even suggest paying for the retest yourself by using a different testing service, but one that still meets with the employer’s approval. Unfortunately many employers don’t, or won’t, do confirmation tests after getting a positive test result. The main reason is the cost to perform than the additional testing.

The standard pre-employment drug test is called a “Five-Screen” and tests for 5 types of street drugs – marijuana, cocaine, PCP (Phencylidine), opiates, and amphetamines. As drug testing became more popular a more extensive 10-panel tests came on the market to check for the presence of:

  • Amphetamines (and Methamphetamine)
  • Barbituates
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Cannabinoids (Marijuana)
  • Cocaine Metabolite
  • Methadone
  • Methaqualone
  • Opiates
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)
  • Propoxyphene

Drug testing continues to grow and now pre employment drug tests check for these drugs:

  • Barbituates (Phenobarbital, secobarbitol, pentobarbital, amobarbital, butalbital)
  • Benzodiazepines (xanax, clonopin, valium, serax, Librium, ativan, diazepam)
  • Hallucinogens (MDE, MDA, MDMA, mescaline, psilocybin)
  • Inhalents (Benzene, Xylene, Toluene)
  • LSD
  • Methadone
  • Methaqualone (Qualuudes)
  • Propoxyphene (Darvon compounds)

And of course many employers are now testing for nicotine to eliminate smokers from their workforce.

Subj: Research strength Xenadrine
Date: 12/4/2010
My daughter was taking “Xenadrine” research strength, over the counter. Is it possiple to show positive for opiates and amphetamines from taking this product?

Lisa

AskDocWeb: The new formula for Xenadrine no longer uses ephedra so it should not be a problem.

Subj: Tested positive for meth
Date: 12/4/2010
Phenylepherine hcl (Equate cold and sinus relief)- I took a U.A. for my treatment center and had been taking the “Equate cold and sinus” for two days 1 in morn. and 2 at bed. The morn I went to take U.A. I had drank a “Nitros” energy drink and took cold meds too. Could this be the reason I tested positive for meth?

Jeff
AskDocWeb: Sorry Jeff, neither of those have been connected to false positives.

Read more feedback about false positives:

Read Previous –
This is page 109 – Next – Last Page 300

If you find this page page useful share it with others. All new questions will be answered by Doctors online.