Questions about False Positives in Drug Testing, page 262

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.

Sibutramine?
12/24/2012
Will the product sibutramine cause a false positive on a drug test for any of the 10 standards drugs that’s tested for on a drug test. Thanks!

Joe

AskDocWeb: Sibutramine (Meridia) is a prescription drug that may test positive for amphetamines. This drug has been taken off the market in the U.S.A. due to the increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

ALBOZ-OMEPRAZOL?
12/24/2012
My mom send’s me ALBOZ-OMEPRAZOL, From Mexico. Can this cause A False/Positive for THC?

Lisa

AskDocWeb: Yes, several of the PPIs may test positive for THC (Reference: 37).

Salvia?
12/25/2012
Can Salvia test positive for Benzodiazapine? I need to know if smoking Salvia can cause a positive UA for Benzo or any other positive results?

Dave

AskDocWeb: Salvia has a very unique chemical structure and should not cause a false positive for any other substance one urine drug screens.

Tamiflu
12/26/2012
Can tamiflu cause a false positive for any drugs?

Diane

AskDocWeb: Although several antibiotics have shown up on drug tests as false positive, none of the antiviral medications are known to do that. Tamiflu is an antiviral medication.

Health remedies and weight loss products
12/26/2012
I get random alcohol ETG tests (I think) but I have some health remedies and weight loss products that contain alcohol in them. If I took 20 drops of a solution with 20% USP Grade alcohol in it 2X/day would this show up on that test?

Anne

AskDocWeb: That depends on what kind of test they use. The EtG test is widely used by drug-testing laboratories to detect alcohol consumption and if that is what they use, it is likely to show up. According to an advisory issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that test is too inaccurate to be reliable. 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.

Positive on cocaine?
12/27/2012
Hi, I just took a drug test and i wast positive on cocaine i never do cocaine in my life the only medicine i took is omeprazole

Robert

AskDocWeb: Several PPIs, including Omeprazole, have shown up on drug tests as false positives for THC but not for cocaine. If you believe that your test result is a false positive then getting a GC-MS confirmation test can rule that out.

Pre job drug test
12/28/2012
I took a pre job drug test and tested positive for drug like atarawl. Dont do drugs what can cause this

Gerald

AskDocWeb: Sorry Gerald, atarawl is not listed in our database. Pre job drug tests often use cheap urine test kits that may produce false positive results if you are using one of these products. Because there are so many possible causes for a false positive it is recommended that test results be confirmed by the more accurate GC-MS confirmation test.

Fired from my job
12/28/2012
I take tramadol, sertraline, Trazodone, alprazolam, and ibuprofen, can any of these together cause a false positive urine test for thc because i was fired from my job for a random drug test and they told me that it was positive for thc. I’m 57 yrs old I do not smoke pot. Please help.

Barbara

AskDocWeb: There are many reports of Ibuprofen showing up as a false positive for THC (References: 1, 14, 16, 18, 20, 26, and 29). If your test result was not confirmed then you may have a legal cause for a law suit. If you suspect that it wasn’t confirmed then you may want to ask a Lawyer if you have a case. Others have won large settlements because their employer didn’t confirm the test results.

Ibuprofen is sold under the brand names of Actiprofen Caplets, Advil, Advil Migraine, Apo-Ibuprofen, Children’s Advil, Children’s Motrin, Excedrin IB, Genpril, Haltran, Junior Strength Advil, Junior Strength Motrin, Medipren, Menadol, Midol IB, Motrin IB, Novo-Profen, Nu-Ibuprofen, and Nuprin.

I am worried
12/29/2012
I tested pssitive for Methadone. I have never ever taken that frug. In facy I am allergic to Morphine. I do, however take Diphenhydramine which is precsribed I take it 2-3 tiems a day. I am also prescribed Alprazolam. I tested positive for that but brought my prescriptions in and a doctors note. They said that was ok. My urine has been sent off for testing. Will I be exhonerated? My good name is at stake. I am worried. I believe that thay use GC/MS technique. Thank you

San

AskDocWeb: If your test result was a false positive and they use the GC/MS technique to confirm the results then you will probably be okay. Do you know if the lab that they use for confirmation is a certified laboratory? For a list of SAMHSA certified laboratories see page 185.

They can’t get it right
12/29/2012
Our family Dr moved to another state. I was in a terrible accident 8 years ago (24 fractures some non union, collapsed lung, head injury) and have been taking 2 lortab, 1 or 2 Soma and 15mg Valium a day. Less than prescribed. I got a false positive for oxycontin once. The 2nd time they did an instant test that came up fine.

The 3rd time they sent it to the same Lab it came back positive for Methadone. This is ridiculous. I never have asked for anything more than a Tylenol 3. The Doctor put me on these pills. I am a heart patient and this stress is giving me chest pains. Had a Heart Attack and drug eluting stent last year. Take Simvastatin and 162mg aspirin, as well as occaisional 3mg Melatonin. I have never taken Oxycontin or methadone.

Would the GC/MS be able to tell if the Soma is doing this? I never gave it much thought before. This is not fair that people can go to jail or lose a job over false positives and they can’t get it right. Why would the instant test be right and the Lab be wrong? Seems unconstitutional. I never would have taken the test if I knew I was taking a chance on my reputation.

Ken

AskDocWeb: Of course it is unconstitutional. If you are required to take a drug test then you are being forced to present evidence that may be used against yourself. In case you haven’t noticed the Constitution is slowly being done away with in this country.

The GC/MS test will identify exactly what is in your sample but it will not identify the source of a false positive. One problem for some is that not every laboratory is certified by SAMHSA. That’s the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. One of their jobs is to set standards for drug testing laboratories and certify that they meet those standards. Laboratories that are not certified by SAMHSA generally have higher rates of errors and false positives.

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