Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 117

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: “almost perfect”
Date: 1/21/2011
My wife and I are in a Suboxone treatment program and all of our drug screens are done with GC/MS tests. I just wanted to point out that even with this method of testing, my wife came up positive twice for morphine (both times were around 140ng) and one of the positive tests also showed hydromorphone (60ng). My wife had eaten poppy seed muffins before both tests and the GC/MS couldn’t even determine that. Needless to say, the doctor never believed her because he claimed that these tests are “almost perfect”.

Josh

AskDocWeb: Almost perfect may not be perfect but it is the closest this testing has so far accomplished.

Subj: How far back does a GC/MS test go?
Date: 1/22/2011
I have been clean and sober for 12 years and found out today that i tested positive for cocaine two weeks ago! i was told that there was NOTHING I can do about it, I will not be retested because its too late, any of the cocaine I supposedly injested would be out of my system by now so the result of further testing would be invalid. How far back does a GC/MS test go? I too adore my counselor and despise the idea that while she says she believes me, how could she help but doubt? I never even liked cocaine!

jennifer

AskDocWeb: The GC/MS test only reports what is currently in your system. It is not like the hair test, which goes back as far as the hair is long.

Subj: Zantac-rantidine
Date: 1/23/2011
I have a question. I have been on zantac-rantidine for years. I was recently put on rendom drug screening due to a criminal matter. I went for 2 tests last week and came up positive for methanphetimines. Is it at all possible that this medication cause the false positive? Thank you

Eileen

AskDocWeb: According to an issue of Lab Medicine (issue 6, 2004), Zantac has shown up on urine drug tests as a false positive for amphetamines.

Subj: ORC meds
Date: 1/23/2011
I am currently sponsoring a lady who was tested positive for benzodiazepine (sp?) at the sober house where she lives and she swears she only took one benadryl and three ibuprofens earlier in the day. I believe she is clean for benzo’s but wonder if the otc meds could have caused the false positive.

Debbie

AskDocWeb: If the test result was a false positive, then it is likely that it was the Benadryl that caused it.

Subj: K2
Date: 1/25/2011
My husband and have tried a variety of K2, but for some reason he is being told that he has had a dirty UA for weed. How and why would that be?

Ebony

AskDocWeb: The routine urine drug tests do not detect K2 as a false positive for weed (THC). However, there are reports of K2 being mixed with weed and that would certainly show up on the UA.

Subj: Hair follicle test
Date: 1/26/2011
I take methadaone-hydrocodone and tizanidine. could any of these drugs cause a false positive for cocaine in a hair follicle test?. or what can cause a false positive for cocaine? My prescription drugs did not show up at all, no traces at all! but cocaine did???

Derrick

AskDocWeb: Sorry Derrick, our research is limited to urine drug testing until more funds become available.

Subj: Vyvanse
Date: 1/26/2011
Will vyvanse show up positive on both an amphetamine and meth-amphetamine urine dip stick test, or only the amphetamine test?

Scott

AskDocWeb: Vyvanse is an amphetamine used to treat attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD).

Subj: Positive for methamphtimines
Date: 1/26/2011
I was just given a pre-employment drug test. I gave them the prescription drugs that I take which are Loretab, Xanex, Soma, and over the counter on Rantidine (daily for heartburn) and recently added Black Cohosh herbal supplement for hot flashes. I also had some Claritin D and sudafed within the last couple of weeks for sinus issues. The drug test came back positive for methamphtimines. I have never taken anything like that and am floored. I was wondering if the cold medicine and the black cohosh could have caused the false positive. The job I applied for has just sent the test for confirmation to a lab. Any suggestions? Please help. I need this job and haven’t done anything wrong.

Tonya

AskDocWeb: Cold remedies that contain dextromethorphan have shown up as various kinds of opiates. The confirmation test should clear up any false positives but let us know if it doesn’t.

Subj: Tested positive for marijuana
Date: 1/27/2011
I just tested positive for marijuana and I don’t smoke at all, but I was taking predinsone and albutoral when I was tested is that why I failed the test?

Prednisone

AskDocWeb: Neither of those drugs have been reported to cause a false positive for marijuana but don’t worry, if it is a false positive the confirmation test will eliminate that.

Subj: Hydrocodone
Date: 1/28/2011
How long does it take for 60mg of Hydrocodone to be eliminated from my system as I have to take a 13 panel urine drug test. Had old prescription, not sure if it is too old to use

Shoulder pain

AskDocWeb: Since the half-life of Hydrocodone is 3.8 hours it should be out of your system within 20 hours.

Subj: Zanaflex and Suboxone?
Date: 1/29/2011
Will Zanaflex and Suboxone pop positive on DOD urinalysis? Thank you AskDocWeb.

Taylor

AskDocWeb: Neither of those drugs have been reported to show up as a false positive on any urine drug tests for drugs of abuse.

Subj: Nioxin Hair treatment?
Date: 1/30/2011
I am currently going through a court ordered Alcohol program that I am subjected to Breath, Etg, and possibly Alcohol Hair Testing thereafter. I am not worried about the Breath, since it has been 2 months since I had a drop of anything, however I am concerned that the Nioxin Hair treatment i have been on for 4-5 months may cause a false positive for the markers they are testing for. The ingredients can be found at this page. Should I discontinue use of the product?

Justin

AskDocWeb: There are no reports of any Nioxin product causing a false positive on urine drug tests.

Subj: Tested positive for the PCP
Date: 1/30/2011
I recently tested positive for the PCP test, even though I’ve never in my life tried or taken PCP. I’m on several Antidepressants, Pristiq 100mg/day, Lamictal 300mg/day and Zyprexa 20mg/day. I’m also on Adderall 20mg X3/per day and was recently on Klonopin 1mgX3/per day. What would cause a false positive on the urine test is what baffles me! Any insifht would be most helpful. I see a marriage counselor on Thursday of this week and would appreciate any comments you may have that would have caused this! I’ve been off the Klonopin for awhile, but traces may still be in my system. Thanks for your help!

Jeff

AskDocWeb: (answer revised 6/30/2011) So far there are only six products that have been reported to show up on a urine drug test as a false positive for PCP; Lamotrigine (Lamictal), Benadryl (Diphenhydramine), Diazepam, Effexor Tablets (venlafaxine hydrochloride), Ketamine, and Tylenol Simply Sleeps (Diphenhydramine). In order to eliminate any false positives you could get a GC/MS confirmation test on the original sample.

Subj: Tested positive for benzos
Date: 1/30/2011
I’m on a methadone program & have tested positive for benzos. I’m not sure why this is reading in my Urine test I’ve never done benzos! It wouldn’t bother me, but I get carries for always being clean, now I risk loosing them & they took alot of time to get the privilege of carries!

Eve

Subj: Cocaine from money?
Date: 1/31/2011
I did a swab test and it broke off in my mouth when the test was done. I asked him, “what do I do?” He said, spit it out in your hand and put it in the vile.” I was handling money before that by paying for my drug test. A week later I tested positive for cocaine and coulnd’t understand why until now. 90% of all monies in the U.S. have traces of cocaine on them, and my hands were all over that money and then grabbed the swab with my fingers to put in the vile. Is there a good chance that is why I have a positive test from this swab? Also, I immediately had a hair test done when I found out that I had a dirty test, and results came back negative. I was clean the whole time. I am asking the judge to retract my extra time that I was given due to no fault of anyone and value your opinion greatly. Thank you

Brian

AskDocWeb: In a 1997 the Argonne National Laboratory found that nearly 4 out of 5 one-dollar bills in the Chicago suburbs were found to bear traces of cocaine. In another study, more than 135 bills from 7 U.S. cities were tested and all but 4 were contaminated with traces of cocaine. The bills were collected from restaurants, stores, and banks in cities from Milwaukee to Dallas. However, unless you work as a bank teller, cashier, or money counter at a casino, this is unlikely to be a problem. The amounts are so small that the average person will not get enough on them to show up on a random drug test, not even those who occasionally carry a great deal of cash.

Subj: Feels like I screwed my life up
Date: 1/31/2011
I tested positive for morphine one time. It was given to me by a relative for a migraine, as I suffer from chronic migraines (and dull headaches daily, but I take ibuprofen for that). Seeing as I was prescribed hydrocodone 7.5 I didn’t think an opiate showing up in my system would hurt, but it did as it showed up as morphine, not hydrocodone.

Seeing as my medical history is already screwed I found out that suboxone can be used for pain so I told my doctor that I needed suboxone because I was an addict. I had passed every drug test after the failed one and he was suspicious and asked me if I was really addicted and I replied yes. He prescribed me the suboxone, but I realize it just made everything worse and my medical history is wrecked. I just wanted to stop the migraines and seeing as how I have tried maxalt, Axert, Imitrex, and some others.

I just thought I would say yes so I could have something for when I had a migraine. I feel guilty and I don’t know what to do. I know if I tell him the truth, that he will dismiss me and it would make matters worse. What do I do? My medical life is completely ruined and it’s all because I just wanted the pain to stop. Have I completely screwed my life up? It feels like it and I’m completely lost on what to do.

Cody

AskDocWeb: You may have created a mess but that doesn’t mean that you have completely screwed up. There is an old saying, “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” That means stop making things worse. You may need some counseling to help you clean up the mess but it is worth it in the long run. Whether you do that or not is up to you.

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