False Positives on Drug Tests, page 139

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: Azithromycin
Date: 6/21/2011
Does azithromycin cause a drug test to come back positive?

Bondena

AskDocWeb: Although some antibiotics have shown up as false positives on urine tests, azithromycin is not one of them.

Subj: Positive for THC
Date: 6/22/2011
I currently received a positive for thc on a random drug test. I have fibromyalgia and take zoloft 100mg daily along with the muscle relaxer roboxin 500mg 3xs a day. My doctor has been working with me, currently my heart races, he put me on metoprolol er succinate 50mg, that did not help. So now I am trying vitamin and herb supplements. I take a multivitamin, fish oil, vitamin d, b12, b3, b6 and a b-complex with folic acid and vitamin c. Also trying to eliminate foods that can cause me problems. Now the results of my test tell my employer that I do drugs. Will consult my doctor about this. Now I have to go through the SAP program and miss work. Is there something I am taking that could cause this to happen. Also, take Aleve gel caps daily for muscle pain. Thanks for listening.

Linda

AskDocWeb: Large doses of vitamin B2 have been noted to cause false positives for THC as well as Aleve. When a confirmation test is performed (GC/MS) these sources of false positives are eliminated.

Subj: Saliva swab test
Date: 6/22/2011
Hi. I have been on methadone maintance for 4 years, 6 months ago I relapsed on Crack and Heroin but have been clean since march. I have passed every weekly urine test since, child protection services are involved now. Yesterday I did a urine test which was negative for all but prescribed drugs but the saliva test showed positive for cocaine. I have not done any drugs but did go to the dentist last week. And had injections in my gum (my gums have completely receded). I am not sure what the injections were. But I did have a urine sample after I had been to the dentist it was negative. Yesterday one week after the dentist the urine test was negative but the saliva test was positive. Could it be that the anaesthetics in my gums show on the saliva test but not the urine?

Kerry

AskDocWeb: If you can let us know the name of the saliva test or its manufacturer we will check it out for you.

Subj: GC/MS test?
Date: 6/23/2011
I currently take oxycodone and I have a script. I told them this at the test site. I know I am getting a 10 pannel screen. I am wondering if they will continue to gc/mc the resultus and if they do, will they test for everything? I ask because I bought an at home drug dip test for THC and was negative but am afraid that if they gc/mc the test the THC will show up….

Daniel

AskDocWeb: Typically the GC/MS test is only performed if something shows up on the urine test. It is too expensive to do on every test.

Subj: How can we dispute these results?
Date: 6/23/2011
my wife is on chemotherapy and recently came back positive on a drug screen for amphetamines and pcp. I am certain that she is not using those drugs. She is on rituxan, cytoxin, doxyrubicin, vincristine, and prednisone. Can any of these drugs cause false positives for pcp? She also takes psudophed. please help us. it is important that we be able to dispute these results as she is in danger of losing her nursing liscence.

Steve

AskDocWeb: Currently the only way to dispute the results is by getting a confirmation test, usually with GC/MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). That puts those in charge of the testing in the position of having to prove her guilt rather than her having to prove her innocence.

Subj: Tested positive for EtG
Date: 6/23/2011
I test on Friday negative for the etg and on Monday I tested positive 184/34 on the etg. I worked all weekend and have taken over 160 of these test for cps and Im not stupid I didnt drink any alcohol knowing I was going to test on Monday. Why would I test positive and what does this level of positive mean is it very little?

Mary

AskDocWeb: First an explanation of what your numbers mean. The number 184 is the level of EtG (Ethyl Glucuronide). EtG is the metabolite of alcohol that is produced by the liver for 3 to 5 days following ingestion of alcohol. The number 34 is the level of Ets (ethyl sulfate), which is another specific metabolite or biomarker that indicates ethanol ingestion or exposure.

Any EtG level over 100 (ng/mL) and EtS level over 25 indicates exposure to ethanol. The only way you can have levels of EtG and EtS above those numbers in the urine is if ethanol is in your body. However, an EtG level between 100-2000 could indicate incidental exposure to ethanol from household products such as the following:

  • balsamic vinegar
  • beauty product that contains SD Alcohol 40
  • breath drops
  • cooking Vanilla is 30% alcohol by volume
  • extra sour dough bread
  • fake alcohol such as O’doull’s, Near beer, and Fre’ wine products
  • hair dye
  • mouthwash
  • Nyquil
  • soy sauce
  • teriaki sauce
  • waterless hand soap. (Proven by recent clinical study)

Sterling Reference Laboratories states that a low level test result (like yours) may be termed an innocent positive if it is believed to be caused by other sources.

Subj: Thanks
Date: 6/24/2011
Thanks for replying to my earlier query. May I know which test shoild I go through for goiter, please recommend. Abstract from earlier query response: (deleted)

Sam

AskDocWeb: Please note that the topic of this forum is false positives. Let’s try to stay on topic. For medical advice consult with your doctor.

Subj: Ventolin inhaler?
Date: 6/25/2011
Can you show up positive for cocain on a drug test if you use a ventolin inhailer? Because I was told ventolin has speed in it. Is that true?

amanda

AskDocWeb: Ventolin is a brand name of the generic drug albuterol. A fast heartbeat is one of the possible adverse side effects of using Ventolin that should be reported to the prescribing physician. Like other sympathomimetic agents, albuterol can cause central nervous system stimulation and other adverse reactions. It has not been documented to cause a false positive on a drug test.

Subj: False positive on a drug test
Date: 6/25/2011
I am a suboxone patient and I recently had a false positive on a drug test for benzos, opiates and THC…well about a week prior to my drug test I had a (UTI-urinary tract infection) so I bought some OTC UTI relief medicine and took it as directed, but when I went for my drug test and I had tested positive for those 3 drugs mentioned above, I was shocked to hear that because the only medication I take is my suboxone which has never come up as anything that I know of before, but they were aware of my medication. Even if it would have come up as something they wouldn’t have told me anyways because they were already aware of it…but anyways they sent my sample to a labratory to be further tested for levels…
After my test I had gone home and was curious as to why I tested positive for those 3 things and decided to take a look at the UTI relief box, which it had stated that this medication may interfere w labratory tests…so then I figured that had to be the reason for my false positive, which it was, when the results came back, there was nothing of the sort in my system other than the suboxone which I am prescribed…

Jessica

AskDocWeb: It would be helpful to know the name of your OTC UTI relief medicine so that others can be on guard for the same thing happening to them.

Subj: Geodon
Date: 6/26/2011
Can Geodon cause a false negative for thc?

Sue

AskDocWeb: No, Geodon has not been reported to cause any problems on urine drug tests.

Subj: Positive test for Meth
Date: 6/27/2011
I am on parole for an alcohol related offense. I received positive test for Meth. Never have used it! Ever. I am racking my brain for possible reasons. I am currently taking: 1800mg Gabapentin/day, but I don’t think that’s it. I took Herbalax, which contains many herbs, including Senna Leaf; vit. B12, Iron, Calcium and Fish Oil. I am also on the nicotine patch. I am researching to see what the possibilities are with any of these, but could definitely use some help. Thanks for being out there.

Whitney

AskDocWeb: Urine tests have an “error rate,” which means that a certain percentage of results will not be accurate. Part of the problem with tracking down a false positive is that the result may be from a defective test or testing procedure. It is not always the result of something you took. However, when a false positive does result from something you took, there are over 600 possible causes. Will they let you retest or get a confirmation test?

Subj: Failed drug screening test for TCA
Date: 6/27/2011
just took a drug screening test for a new position and the nurse asked if i’d like to stick around to see the results. I honestly never take medicine, but used to smoke marijuana, and drank an herbal cleanse the night before being tested. I passed for everything but failed for TCA??? what exactly is TCA?

sam

AskDocWeb: TCA is an acronym for tricyclic antidepressants. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics the following drugs can cause a false positive for TCAs.

  • Carbamazepine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Cyproheptadine
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Norcyclobenzaprine
  • Perphenazine
  • Thioridazine
  • Trimeprazine

If you are not taking any antidepressants then you may want to get a confirmation test to eliminate false positives, that is, if they allow you to do that.

Subj: Sinemet
Date: 6/28/2011
Will sinemet show a false pos for meth?

Lee

AskDocWeb: Sinemet (Carbidopa-Levodopa) may cause a false-positive reaction for urinary ketone bodies but not for meth. Ketones are the fuel sources the body uses when there isn’t enough glucose in the bloodstream.

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