Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 130

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: Constant pain
Date: 4/12/2011
I have chronic neck pain cervical spondylosis was on 40 mg. oxy twice daily I’ve had surgery, injections, nothing has helped heat on my neck in tractions feels good. anyways my dr. did a u a on me a few months back it came back with meth in my system i asked to do it again she refused. I went and seen a pain specialist he wants to try injections. they did a ua on my first visit when i went back his assistant told me it came back positive for meth but she told the lab to run it again it then was neg. Now i cant find a dr. to help me make it threw the day and am in constant pain. what can i do please help me l. thank you for listening.

Cathy

Subj: Diabetic positive for alcohol
Date: 4/13/2011
I participate in a drug rehab program (methadone)and undergo periodic (monthly) drug testing. First I am a diabetic and have been taking amoxicillin for almost two weeks now and my last drug screen was positive for cocaine, how can this be I do not use cocaine never have never will, the only new drug in my system is the antibiotic can this cause a false positive for cocaine? Also it keeps coming back positive for alcohol but the lab said it was because I am a diabetic, is that true? Thank you.

Gina

AskDocWeb: Yes, it is true. If a diabetic does not get enough insulin, the cells aren’t able to use the blood glucose and the body will start breaking down fats for energy. When fats are broken down for energy, it produces waste products called ketones. These ketones can cross-react in tests for alcohol. This is why a diabetic may produce a positive result for alcohol, even if they haven’t had anything to drink.

There are several sources that identify amoxicillin as a possible cause of false positive for cocaine (References 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 26, and 29).

Subj: TO PEE OR NOT TO PEE…
Date: 4/14/2011
I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes & the government Distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, in my case, I am required to pass a random urine test (with which I have no problem). What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test.

So, here is my question: Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their butt – doing drugs while I work. Can you imagine how much money each state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? I guess we could call the program “URINE OR YOU’RE OUT”!

Awolfclan

P.S. Just a thought, all politicians should have to pass a urine test too!

Subj: Exchanging bodily fluids?
Date: 4/14/2011
I am prescribed morphine for back pain (3 surgery’s) and my wife tested positive for morphine. Can this be due to our sleeping together and exchanging bodily fluids?

Terry

AskDocWeb: We can’t say that it is impossible but exchanging body fluids has not been reported to show up on urine drug tests for morphine.

Subj: Tested positive for opiates
Date: 4/14/2011
I was charged with dwi and I’ve been going to treatment clinic for a 9-month program where they regularly take urinal samples for drug testing. I completed 8 months already, all tests were negative until last week. I was tested positive for opiates and I couldn’t find explanation to it. To be honest I didn’t know what it was before. On the day of my test I did eat poppy bagel around noon, and I did have some poppy cake over the weekend. I eat poppy bagels 2-3 times a week. I also drink tonic water from time to time(I just checked that it is with quinine) and energy drinks (monster and redbull). I’m pretty sure I drank tonic water night or two before the day they took urinal sample. Could tonic water and poppy bagels could be the reason for positive? They said they would retest the same urine sample..I told them about poppy bagel and they were skeptical, I haven’t told them about tonic water, which I think could be the true cause. I do take painkillers for headache sometimes, when I don’t get enough sleep, from my mothers ‘stash’, but she said she shouldn’t have any prescription medicine there Please advise, thank you.

Mark

AskDocWeb: We would like to give you the benefit of the doubt but it sounds like you are trying to cause yourself problems. Is there a reason for not telling them about the tonic water? Poppy seeds and tonic water are known to cause problems with urine drug testing. Unless you are trying to sabotage your treatment, you might want to avoid using those products while in the treatment program.

Subj: Tested positive for THC
Date: 4/14/2011
My bf recently tested positive for thc. He has never once smoked or tried it. He is not facing losing his military job becauuse of it. We have spend hours searching about how it could be a false positive and the only reasons we can find is he has 800mg plus of b2 a day, plus second hand smoke from my roommates. We have no idea how to save his job with out them believing us. What can we do?

Rashelle

AskDocWeb: Sorry Rashelle, second hand marijuana smoke is not a false positive.

Subj: Benzonatate
Date: 4/15/2011
Can benzonatate result in a false positive for benzos

Marty

AskDocWeb: Benzonatate is a non-narcotic drug used to treat cough due to the common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, or other lung infections. It is in a class of medications called antitussives (cough suppressants). Although the name is similar, it has NOT shown up on urine drug tests for drugs of abuse.

Subj: Flonase
Date: 4/17/2011
i have drug test coming up but ive been taking flo nase..will this show upon a drug test?

Tony

AskDocWeb: The only nasal sprays reported to show up on urine drug screens are the Vicks inhaler and Afrin. (References 2, 10, 16, and 21)

Subj: Subutex
Date: 4/17/2011
I am pregnant and perscribed subutex, I take weekly saliva drug tests, and I had a test show up positive for morphine and the level was very low. I did not take any morphine though, I SWEAR! But the lady that did the test did not wait the ten minuites after I had taken my subutex to administer the test. do you think this could have affected it.

MAD MOTHER

AskDocWeb: No we don’t think the timing would make any difference. Opioid tests screen for morphine and codeine, which are two of the most common metabolites of many opioids. They are not metabolites of buprenorphine (Subutex, Suboxone).

Subj: In trouble
Date: 4/17/2011
I am taking dioxpen, Lorcet 10, sine-off, tizanidine, gabapentin, omerazole, ranitidine, anti-dirrehra(ovtc), atenolol, tylenol, aleve, and I got a false test reading for perocet. But I havn’t to any of those could and of these medicines cause and which one.

In trouble

AskDocWeb: None of what you list has been reported to cause a false positive for perocet or percocet. However, that doesn’t mean it is or isn’t a false positive. The only way to fight that out would be a confirmation test using either a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) or high-performance liquid chromatography.

Subj: Oral fluids drug test
Date: 4/19/2011
My chronic pain doctor drug tested me with an oral fluids drug test. It tested positive for oxycodone with a cutoff level of 5 ng/ml. It was confirmed positive with a LC/MS/MS for oxycodone 23.8 ng/ml although I have never taken this drug. At the time of testing I was on a sleuth of medications including Fentanyl patches, abilify, cymbalta, topamax, provigil, ASA, buspar, celebrex, flexeril, flector patch, enurontin, plaquenil, antibiotics and various vitamins and minerals. How could this have happened? I was also urine drug screened at the same time but the doctor’s office disposed of the urine test without testing it. Please advise. Thank you.

pam

Subj: Second post from Pam
Date: 4/19/2011
I was drug tested by my pain clinic doctor at their office with an oral fluids drug test. Since I had a problem with the test results of a previous oral fluids drug test by their office, I requested a urine drug screen at an offsite location (i.e. hospital-based). The oral fluids drug test came back positive of Benzoylecgonine with a cutoff level of 5 ng/ml and the result was 5 ng/ml. No confirmation was ever done on these results. It also tested positive for Fentanyl with a cutoff level of 0.4 mg/ml with the result being 14 ng/ml. Again, no confirmation was ever done; although, I was prescribed and taking Fentanyl patches at that time.

Within 24 hours prior to this test I was given neosynephrine, mydriacyl and proparacaine eye solutions at the opthamologists. My eye doctor stated that none of these would be associated with a positive drug screening. I also take allot of medications including Fentanyl patches, abilify, cymbalta, topamax, provigil(or ritalin at that time), aspirin, buspar, celebrex flexeril, flector patch, votaren gel, plaquenil, methotrexate, and various vitamins and minerals. Due to this test result and the previous false report which I have already commented on, my doctor’s office advised me that if another test comes back positive, they will take me off all pain medication. Additionally, these false records are being sent to my other physicians whereby no doctors want to prescribe me any pain medication. What is my recourse? I have been honest with my doctors about previous drug usage and advise them that I have not used illegal substances under their care. Please advise. Thanks.

Pam

AskDocWeb: In your first post you said that the result of your drug test was confirmed and twice in your second post you said they were not confirmed. When you change your story like that you lose credibility.

Subj: What can I do to prove that I am clean?
Date: 4/19/2011
I am applying for a nursing job. And while I know that Excedrin, Aleve and Sudafed may cause positive results, my doctor recommended that I used them coz I had really bad migraine and nasal congestion this week. When do you recommend that I take the drug test and/or what can i do to prove that I am “clean.” I never used drugs for recreation and never had to take those medications before.

Jellybean

AskDocWeb: The timing of the test is not likely to make any difference. Full disclosure of everything you are taking at the time of the drug test helps. Since you are aware of the possibility of a false positive result you can be prepared to contest the result. Even if you have to pay for a confirmation test out of your own pocket it is worth it to eliminate any false positives and clear your record.

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