Questions about False Positives in Drug Testing, page 208

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 this forum is not for medical or legal advice.

False positive for MDMA
Date: 6/12/2012
I took a routine drug test (urine) today, and was shocked and in tears when I tested positive for….MDMA! Never done it in my life. I do take a lot of Kava Kava– also Suboxone, and Escitalopram. Took me years to get in this good place, and now this! They are sending the results to a lab for further testing, but I’m wondering whether the amount of kava kava I take, could have contributed. Very upsetting.

Nicole

AskDocWeb: Kava kava has not been reported to cause any kind of false positive on urine tests for drugs of abuse. However false positives for MDMA are a possibility with the EMIT urine tests. Fortunately the additional testing rules out those test results.

Positive for PCP
Date: 6/13/2012
I just had a drug test done and it showed that I was positive for PCP but I’ve never done any drugs. I do however take Maxalt for Migranes. What do I do?

Elizabeth

AskDocWeb: That depends on the context in which the drug testing took place. Did you get tested for pre-employment, post-employment, military, pain management clinic, probation, etc. each of these has its own protocols. At the very least it is likely that you would want to contest the results if you believe they are false positive – or non-negative as many are calling it now. Not contesting the results may result in both medical and legal problems in your future. In some situations you may be required to pay for the additional testing required for a confirmation test. However, getting a confirmation test is not always possible. Good luck with the process.

Never heard of these
Date: 6/13/2012
I am prescribed percoset and valium and my doctor keeps telling me I am coming up with resteril and tramazapine in my urine tests and I have never heard of or taken either one what can cause a false positive for those?

Brandy

AskDocWeb: Our database does not list a false positive cause for either resteril (Restoril – Temazepam) or tramazapine (tramazoline hydrochloride). Were your test results confirmed by additional testing?

False positive for THC?
Date: 6/14/2012
Can excedrin migraine cause a false positive for THC?

Zee

AskDocWeb: It appears that is a possibility according to a Toxicology Lab Technical Brief from Dr. Joseph Graas, Ph.D. (Reference 18).

Tested positive for benzos
Date: 6/14/2012
I have tested positive for benzo’s 3 times now and know I haven’t taken them 100%. In this time all I have taken is piriteze for my hayfever, Benadryl for my cold, prochloperazine buccal, duloxetine, fluoxetine, ibuprofen, co-codamols, mirtazapine, solpadol, dicloflex, valerina, loratadine, lofepramine and terbinafine. Could any of these give a false positive for benzo’s because my social worker is treating me like a drug user and insists I’m lying about not taking them.

Ceri

AskDocWeb: Benadryl has been reported to sometimes show up as a false positive for benzodiazepines. If you haven’t already done so, you might ask to see the confirmation test. Of course if your test result is a false positive your social worker will owe you an apology but don’t hold your breath until you get one.

Drug testing on probation
Date: 6/14/2012
I recently was put on Probation and took my first Drug Test they said I failed it for Barbuates and had to send to the lab. While this was never racking because I knew I haven’t taken anything that would cause this that I’m aware of. Well when it came back Neg.

They then turned around a said they ran a EgT test which show a small trace of Alcohol in my system. The only Med. I take are Adipex37.5mg. Ibuprofen 800mg. And I have a cream for my skin Clobetasol Propionate. So know what does anyone know if any of this can cause a false postive for Alcohol on a EgT.

Glen

AskDocWeb: Although the EtG test is widely used by drug-testing laboratories to detect alcohol consumption, it is too inaccurate to be reliable, according to an advisory issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. According to the SAMHSA advisory:
“Currently, the use of an EtG test in determining abstinence lacks sufficient proven specificity for use as primary or sole evidence that an individual prohibited from drinking, in a criminal justice or a regulatory compliance context, has truly been drinking.

“Legal or disciplinary action based solely on a positive EtG … is inappropriate and scientifically unsupportable at this time. These tests should currently be considered as potential valuable clinical tools, but their use in forensic settings is premature.”

SAMHSA recommends that biomarker tests be used as a tool to launch a more extensive investigation into possible alcohol use, but not as a stand-alone confirmation.

Since Clobetasol Propionate is 39.3% isopropyl alcohol (See National Institute of Health publication it appears that there is a possibility of a positive from that.

Passed labs tests but failed the dipsticks
Date: 6/14/2012
I have been having a horrible time with child protective services and dip stick drug testing. I was prescribed xanex and celexa after my children were taken away. Cps mandated that I do parenting classes and go to drug treatment even though I never had a drug problem. My therapist and MD switched me from xanex and celexa to prestiq and buspar, non narcotics, since I am in drug treatment. The last time I took xanex was the end of April. I get drug tested weekly. I have failed every dipstick test for benzos. They didnt say anything at first, but the last month they are making a big deal because they said it shouldnt be in my system. I demanded a drug screen at the lab to try to prove that I have not been taking anything other than the prestiq, buspar and benadryl. I have passed my labs tests but failed the dipsticks. they were going to return my children to me, but they said they cant until they clear up my postive dipsticks. Please help, idk why I am negative at the lab but positive on the dipstick. They think I am still taking pills and trying to beat the system.

Sanantha

AskDocWeb: The confirmation test at the lab is supposed to outrank the dipstick test because it much more accurate. It sounds like they don’t want to admit that the dipstick test is returning false positive results. You may need legal help to get them to do that.

Neither Buspar (Buspirone) nor Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine) have been reported to cause problems with urine drug tests. However, there seems to be some question about Benadryl. If your doctor prescribes an alternative for the Benadryl and your dipstick tests clear up after that then you may have your answer.

Prestiq is a common misspelling of Pristiq (desvenlafaxine).

Morphine
Date: 6/15/2012
I am required to take urine tests by law and I just recently found out that I failed one about a month ago for morphine but I haven’t done any drugs and certainly not morphine, I don’t remember what I may have taken at the time but the only things I would have taken would be allegra or zertec and zantac could that be the cause and also I passed a drug test the day before the one I failed and a week after?

Harry

AskDocWeb: None of those three have been reported to show up as morphine however, there are over-the-counter medications that may test false positive for morphine so check the list.

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