Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 135

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: Still showing positive
Date: 5/20/2011
I have a CPS case involving loosing custody of my children they have been with CPS for about 6 months and I have been clean and in recovery but my hair follicle test are still showing positive and they say that it should be out of my system by now I have not done any drugs from the time this case started what can i do?

Sandra

AskDocWeb: Usually when a test is positive they will do a recheck or send it out for a confirmation test in order to guarantee that the test was positive. Did they do a confirmation test on your sample? If you are innocent and clean you might ask for a retest at a different lab, one that is certified. A list of drug testing laboratories certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can be found at the SAMHSA website (http://www.drugfreeworkplace.gov/DrugTesting/pdf/CLabList_Apr2011.pdf).

Subj: Hospital failed to confirm results
Date: 5/21/2011
I had my grandaughter in my care and she was teething. I gave her hylands teething tablets and liquid childrens motrin and put her down for a nap. When she woke up I could hardly keep her conscious. We rushed her to the hospital and they said she tested dirty for marijuana. We don’t smoke marijuana and don’t allow it in our house. Our grandaughter was taken into custody.

We knew there was another answer of what was wrong with her so we started researching on the internet and found out that over the counter drugs can cause a cross reactivity problem when a urinalysis screen is done for drug findings, and Ibrophen can show up as a false positive for marijuana in the type of urinalysis they used on my grandaughter.

We also discovered that the teething tablets we gave her had been recalled on the FDA website due to an ingredient in them called belladonna. The tablets had 16 times the amount of belladonna in them that was supposed to be. We still have the tablets and the upc code on our bottle matches the recalled upc code on the FDA website.

The hospital did not run the second test that is required to confirm the first test results findings. The first test results are a presumptive test finding, not confirmed. Because of the hospital failing to confirm the first test my grandaughter was misdiagnosed and treated for something that was not wrong with her, and also removed from her family’s custody. Thank god we had not given her more of the tablets than we did, she could have died.

We would like to have your input on this situation to see if you agree with the information we got from the National Defense Lawyer Association website concerning Ibrophen can show up as a false positive for marijuana. Thank You.

Renee

AskDocWeb:
What an awful situation for everyone involved! Our first concern is for the safety of the child. Belladonna can cause a wide range of symptoms including seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating, and agitation. Did you report this to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program?

In case other parents missed the recall, the Hyland’s Teething Tablets UPC codes included in the recall are for:

  1. 125 tablets, UPC # 3 54973 75041
  2. 250 tablets, UPC # 3 54973 75042
  3. 125 tablets, UPC # 3 54973 75066
  4. 50 tablets, UPC # 3 54973 75044
  5. 145 tablets, UPC # 3 54973 75121
  6. Clip Strip 6×125 tablets, UPC # 3 54973 35109

Parents who would like their product replaced can contact Hyland by calling their office at 1-877-496-5044. Their hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and Saturday & Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To be fair, belladonna does have legitimate medicinal uses. For example, it is where we get atropine. However, we could not find any research on its safe or effective use in infants.

The possibility of a false positive drug test is also a major cause for concern, especially when it results in a child being removed from the parents custody. In case you need it here are other references to confirm that Motrin may cause a false positive for Marijuana: See References 1, 3, 16, 18, 20, 26, and 29.

Subj: Diluted UA
Date: 5/22/2011
i had a diluted UA, I got us am had 2-3 cups coffee and can of soda, rode the bus for 2 hours then went to the bathroom then 15 min later was told need to do UA, was told I could drink water to help me pee … I drank 2-3 glasses of water then within 30 to 40 min later did a UA…. a month later I am told that the UA came back from lab as diluted…. would this senario cause a diluted UA?

Darla

AskDocWeb: Yes, drinking too much of any liquid may cause a diluted UA.

Subj: Poppy seed bagels
Date: 5/23/2011
An applicant tested positive for THC. She said she had eaten 2 poppy seeds bagels on Sat 5/14 and 1 on Sun 5/15. Can that produce a false positive for THC?

Sandi

AskDocWeb: It appears that she used the wrong excuse. Poppy seeds contain morphine, which can test positive for opiates but not THC.

Subj: Vicks vapor rub?
Date: 5/23/2011
I have had my entire family hair tested and all came back positive kids had been sick and we use vicks vapor rub always on them would it cause false positive? i eat 5 to 10 advil a day due to severe back pain would advil cause false positive?

Jeff

AskDocWeb: Several Vicks products are on the list but not Vicks vapor rub. Several sources say that Advil may show up as a false positive for marijuana (References 1, 14, 16, 18, 20, 26, and 29).

Subj: Drug test for employment
Date: 5/23/2011
I recently took a drug test and it came up positive for cocaine. I do not use cocaine. I am on a diet using HCG and B12 injections. What should I do? The drug test was for employment.

Lorraine

AskDocWeb: If you get a false positive and do not contest the results then you are assumed to be guilty. You could tell them that you don’t believe it and ask to see the results of the confirmation test. But don’t get your hopes up. Although it is possible to fight it, companies can easily give you the run-around until someone else fills the position. There is a distinct lack of success stories from those who have fought a false positive test result.

Subj: Failed a drug test
Date: 5/23/2011
Hi my name is Carson and … recently I failed a drug test for 48ng (THC) and also failed for opiates, I had failed about a week before this for 100ng and took a drug test and was clean the next 2 tests however when I went in for my 3rd time they told me I had failed on a 5 tab dip stick and sent it in saying I failed for both the drugs I mentioned before.

Here’s the thing I never did any drugs after I failed my first time. I am going to try in fight this in court anyway I can. I was just seeing if you have heard of any similar cases like this or if there’s things that can show up as those. I am soooo confused and scared because I dont know what the *uck is happening. I have no reason to lie about this to someone I am emailing about if you could get back to me ASAP it would help a lot because right now I dont know where to turn…. Thanks,

Carson

AskDocWeb: Sorry Carson, when you say that you never did any drugs AFTER you failed the first test, that implies that you did use them before that first test.

Subj: Tested negative for what should have been there
Date: 5/23/2011
Need help ive been taking suboxen for 8 months with no issues the last drug test i took came back negative for suboxne but i will still taking it. I just started training for a bench press comp and have been doing a keto diet and drinking about 2-3 gal of water a day would that cause you to not have it in your urin.

Sean

AskDocWeb: It is our understanding that drinking that much water may dilute the test results. A diluted sample may not have the concentration level that is needed to show that you are taking the drug.

Subj: Energy drink?
Date: 5/23/2011
Could an “energy drink” that contain benzene give a false possitive in a urine drug test?

Mike62

AskDocWeb: We were unable to locate any false positives on urine drug tests for drugs of abuse that involve benzene. Benzene can form in any drink that contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and sodium benzoate, or potassium benzoate. Exposing the drink to light or heat stimulates the reaction that results in benzene production. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that benzene causes cancer in humans. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.

Drinking beverages that contain high levels of benzene can cause the following symptoms within minutes to several hours:

  • Convulsions
  • Dizziness
  • Irritation of the stomach
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Sleepiness
  • Vomiting
  • Death (at very high levels)

Please note: Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to benzene.

Subj: Positive for Amphetamine and Meth-amphetamines
Date: 5/25/2011
My name is Nick (for privacy sake please – no last names). I have recently applied at a job at Pepsi. I had to take a drug test for the company. I have ADD and I have been taking prescription medicine. I have been taking Concerta for 11 years. I recently switched to Adderall because of the price issue with Concerta. I started taking adderall at the beginning of May. When my drug test results came back it was positive for Amphetamine and Meth-amphetamines. The drug test doctor said he would clear the amphetamines with my script so i sent him the script and the amphetamines was cleared. I asked about the Meth amphetamines and he said that the Adderall wouldn’t show up for meth. I have never taking meth in my life. I need proof that the adderall can test for a false postive for meth amphetamines in a urine test. If you can help that would be great.

Nick

AskDocWeb: It sounds like what you need is proof for your specific situation. You can get that from a GC/MS conformation test. This test is much more accurate than the EMIT urine test and confirm or deny the results of the first test. It will prove if methamphetamines are in your sample or not.

Subj: Positive drug test for cocaine & opiates
Date: 5/26/2011
I had a positive drug test for cocaine & opiates but ive got phewmonia and im tacking diclofenac ans amoxicillin could this be the reason for a positive drug test becouse i havent taken any drugs.

Danny

AskDocWeb: If your drug test result was a false positive then it was most likely caused by the amoxicillin, which has been reported to show up as a false positive for cocaine (References 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 26, and 29). A GC/MS confirmation test can tell the difference so as long as you have a prescription for the amoxicillin you should be okay.

Subj: Documentation to clear up a false positive
Date: 5/26/2011
My daughter takes Diamox for Pseudotumor Ceribri. She recently failed a drug test. I have been told this drug may cause that. Is their any documentation that we can use to clear up this false positive test result?

Diana

AskDocWeb: Yes, in order to clear up a false positive the documentation you need is the results from the confirmation test, which is proof that even a court of law will accept.

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