Questions about False Positives in Drug Testing, page 212

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.

Salonpas Pain Patches
Date: 7/1/2012
My son is required to take drug tests for his work but recently wrenched his shoulder. I had recently used Salonpas Pain Patches for a similar injury and suggested he try them. It was then suggested by a friend that the ingredients in the patches could cause a false positive drug test because of the methyl salicylate. Is this correct and should my son discontinue using them?

Lori

AskDocWeb: Your friend may have been equating methyl with meth but they have different chemical root forms and are not the same thing. Methyl salicylate may cause some types of false positives but not on drug tests for drugs of abuse. There are many products that use methyl salicylate in their formulas and if it caused any problems with drug testing it would have been big news. Here are just a few of the products containing methyl salicylate:

  • Arthritis Hot
  • BenGay Arthritis Formula
  • BenGay Original Ointment
  • Ben-Gay Ultra Strength Pain Relieving Cream
  • Dermolin Liniment
  • Flexall Ultra Plus
  • Heet Liniment
  • Icy Hot Chill Stick
  • Icy Hot Extra Strength Pain Relieving Balm
  • Icy Hot Extra Strength Pain Relieving Cream
  • Mentholatum Deep Heating
  • Salonpas
  • Thera-Gesic
  • TheraPatch

None of the above have cause any problems with drug testing.

False positive for meth?
Date: 7/1/2012
I take a number of different things including lexapro, sinex nasal spray, nyquil, semprex d, cymbalta, singulair, mucinex-d, clarinex-d, bupropion had a recent hair toxicology and in a custody battle now because of dfps. Please tell me if this could cause a false positive for meth… ?

D

AskDocWeb: The Enzyme-Immunoassay Antibodies (EIA) used in the initial hair test are similar to those used to test urine so the substances that might cause a false positive screening result are the same as this list. Since you are in a custody battle you will likely want to eliminate the possibility of a false-positive due to cross-reactivity. To do that you need a confirmation test, preferably from an independent laboratory by GC/MS.

Lamictal
Date: 7/2/2012
Can amino acid or lamictal (seizure and mood stabilizer) cause a false positive on a drug test?

Jessica

AskDocWeb: According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Lamictal® (Lamotrigine) may test false positive for PCP on the Bio-Rad TOX/See urine toxicology screen.

Tested positive for Vicodin
Date: 7/3/2012
My son tested positive for Vicodin in hair drug test. He swears he never took this but he take Percsets and oxycodone for pain. He has used extra strength Tylenol and over the counter Nyquil and allegry meds alike Benadril, Is there any reason for this false positive or could the tst be flawed. This hospital is the one used by this employeer.

Patricia

AskDocWeb: It sounds suspicious that he tested positive for Vicodin because the standard hair test does not test for Vicodin. It tests for cocaine, marijuana, opiates (including heroin, codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and hydromorphone), methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA) and phencyclidine (PCP). These are the the five drug classes that are mandated for testing by the Federal Government. Vicodin is a combination of Acetaminophen (analgesic/antipyretic) and Hydrocodone Bitartrate, which is an opiate. If his drug test showed an opiate, how did he know it was Vicodin?

Positive for THC
Date: 7/4/2012
My husband tested positive for THC about a month ago. He and I are both on probation, and do NOT abuse drugs! The test acted funny when first performed, but rather than re-test him, the PO sealed off the test and mailed it to a lab. They stated that levels were too high for second-hand smoke to have played a role; he had to have smoked it. My husband and I quit smoking pot in our mid-20s! We are in our late 30s. He does work with folks who do smoke, and at times, has to ride with them for work purposes. He is allowed to roll down the window, but they fuss if the a/c is on. Between this second-hand smoke and handling zoloft, guanfesine, vyvanse, focaline, kapvay, and abilify, can a urine test show positive for marijuana?? Please help; he has court July 11, 2012. Thank you for assisting in this matter!

Onitra

AskDocWeb: It may be helpful if you could explain what you mean by “the test acted funny” and who you are referring to when you say “they stated that levels were too high.” Did that statement come from the lab that did the confirmation test?

False positive for THC
Date: 7/4/2012
I had a false positive for thc and I take protonix. False positives for MTD, TCA and Met. I don’t do Meth at all and now DHS had us go down for a hair test for Meth, too.

Elsie

P,S. I just sent you a comment and i forgot to add that I also use Pennsaid Topical solution.

AskDocWeb: Diclofenac sodium is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain and inflammation. It has not been reported to show up on a urine drug test for drugs of abuse. It is more likely to be Protonix, which has been reported to show up as a false positive for THC according to IT Laboratories. They are an ISO-certified drug testing and toxicology laboratory that provides custom-designed drug testing services.

Positive for alcohol
Date: 7/4/2012
I have been a heavy drinker for 20+ years. I have not had any alcohol in two months, but the urine tests I’m taking weekly at my treatment center are showing up positive. Any idea why?

Lynn

AskDocWeb: Since alcohol is easily absorbed through the skin, it is possible to get a positive result from products applied topically. You may want to review the ingredients of your cosmetics, skin care, and hygiene products for alcohol. It is possible that you may have consumed alcohol and didn’t realize that it was in your food or drink from one of the following:

  • balsamic vinegar
  • breath drops
  • cooking Vanilla (30% alcohol by volume)
  • extra sour dough bread
  • mouthwash
  • soy sauce
  • teriaki sauce

Other product may also contain alcohol.

Colchicine
Date: 7/5/2012
Can a patient test positive for THC if he is taking colchicine?

Luz

AskDocWeb: Colchicine may cause a false positive test result when testing urine for RBC or hemoglobin but not for drugs of abuse.

Positive for Benzoylecgonine
Date: 7/5/2012
I took a drug test and it came out positive for Benzoylecgonine. I do not use cocaine. I have been sick about 2 weeks prior and have took different severe cold/flu medicines. Can this be the reason why? Are there certain ingredients in medicines that cause this? A Gs/Ms test was also taken and came out positive.

Paul

AskDocWeb: Sorry Paul, we know of no substance that would cause a GC/MS test to misidentify or return a false positive for cocaine.

Note: Metabolites are the substances left over in the body after the body processes a drug. Benzoylecgonine (ben?zo-il-ek´go-n?n) is the major metabolite of cocaine.

Viagra
Date: 7/6/2012
Can u fail a probation test by taking Viagra on saturday and they call u Monday?

Bamafever

AskDocWeb: As long as you have a prescription for it you should be okay.

Test is dirty
Date: 7/6/2012
I’m prescribed Hydroco/app tabs 5/35mg for back pains will it test me dirty and how long will it stay in my system,,i took test but is saying dirty

Voncha

AskDocWeb: The half-Life of hydrocodone ranges from 3.8 to 6 hours so it is out of your system within a couple of days. However, the metabolites of hydrocodone can be detected for approximately 4 to 7 days after the last usage, and that varies from person to person.

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