Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 38

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: Cocaine?
Date: 5/31/2008
I have a very Important question. I was recently Urine tested, and it said (slightly) that cocaine was in my system. It was one of those all in one urine testing kit. I DO NOT DO Cocane of any kind. I DO take 200 MG of Provigal every morning along with anywhere from 300-450 MG of Wellbutrin and 100MG of Seroquel. Could have any of the above drugs test positive for Cocaine in the urine? This is driving me crazy, I cannot understand why they would say such a thing to me, I do NOT use illegal drugs!!! Please help me. Thank you,

Ben

AskDocWeb: Wellbutrin has been reported to show up as false positive one some urine tests (See reference 12).

Subj: Advil and Topicort?
Date: 6/1/2008
My son recently had a blood and urine test for drugs and alcohol. The test results came back negative for everything except cannabinoids. The physician said not to worry about it, it may have been something over the counter or prescribed that he had been taking. The only medications he has been using recently were advil and Topicort for Psoriasis. Would any of these cause a false positive?

Barbara

AskDocWeb: Advil has been reported to show up as a false positive on some urine drug tests.

Subj: Tested positive for marijuana
Date: 6/1/2008
I recently tested positive for marijuana, but at the time when the test was done I was taking a few different kinds of medicine because I just had hernia sugery, I was taking percoset, flexirol, ibuprofen, tylenol with codiene, and celebrex, I was wondering if the combination of those meds could cause a false positive for thc.

Allen

AskDocWeb: Yes, you can check the list here.

Subj: Lortab
Date: 6/2/2008
my son was taken lortab and he went for a pre-employment drug test and it came back positive for PCP and thc he is very upset because he doesn’t do drugs can lortab cause it.

Cindy

AskDocWeb: Lortab is an opioid analgesic.

Subj: Should we have a GS-MS test done?
Date: 6/4/2008
My 18 year old son has a seasonal job every summer as a lifeguard at the city pool. He looks forward to this every year. This year he went to take his yearly drug screen and had AP English final. He is also on Bactrim and Diffferin for his acne. He uses Benadryl and nose spray occasionally for his allergies. His drug screen came back positive for amphetamines. He is devastated and now cannot work with the city for the next 2 years. This kid hates drugs and at this point it isn’t about the job anymore, but his good character. Could any of these cause a false reading and should we have a GS-MS test done? How long do they keep the urine after a positive test? We are at three weeks since the original screening.

Pat

AskDocWeb: Typically they toss the urine out right after the test. The 4-Way Nasal Spray is at the top of our list and there may be other nasal sprays that could result in a false positive. Also Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) has been reported to show up as false positives for Benzodiazepines, PCP, and Tricyclic Antidepressants 2-4 days after a single use. (Reference 45). We can’t stress this strong enough; Anytime you believe that you have received a false positive result on a drug test, get a GC/MS confirmation test.

Subj: Dipstick test
Date: 6/4/2008
I recently went to a lab for a urine drug test required for a job I applied for. The dipstick test showed positive for THC and meth. I have never used either of those drugs. I regularly use Proventic (an asthma inhaler containing Albuterol) about three to four times a day for asthma relief, a daily one time a day pill of Singulair (10 mg dose) and have been taking Motrin (800 mg dose twice a day) for a solid week before the test to relieve some exercise related swelling. I also took 2 four hour Chlor-Trimeton pills (4 mg of Chlorpheniramine Maleate each) two days before the test to help deal with my cat allergy flare up. Did all/any of these normal drugs cause the positive readings for THC and Meth? I left the test facility right after the test as I was so shocked and after the lab attendant suggested I drink a gallon of water for 4 days and return for a retest and if positive again suggested it get sent to a lab for further testing. I was/am mortified by this experience.

Harold

Subj: Tested positive for benzo’s
Date: 6/4/2008
A patient of mine tested positive for benzo’s. He has been on Lithium, Geodon, Lamictal, Trazadone, Thiamine, and Folic Acid. I have a suspicion that our U/A’s are faulty, however would any of these meds test positive for benzos?

Kathy

AskDocWeb: Trazadone would be the only possibility we can see. (Reference 32)

Subj: Positive urinalysis for alcohol
Date: 6/5/2008
I’m in drug court (almost 2 years now) for a DUI. I recently had a positive urinalisys, actually it was negative for alcohol but showed some other levels that were high which makes the PO believe I consumed alcohol sometime in the last 80 hrs. What causes this? I did not drink!!

Kpberry

AskDocWeb: That sounds like a contradiction, if the test was negative for alcohol then they have no evidence that alcohol has been consumed.

Subj: Tested positive for THC
Date: 6/5/2008
Hi, I am in the middle of a custady hearing. I tested positive fore THC no surprise to the kids case worker she told me I would test positive. She has this list so she let me see the boys. Now the judge will not take her word so can someone please tell me where ya’ll got your info please.

P.S. I am in recovery 2/7/99

John

AskDocWeb: Our list comes from many sources which are spelled out on our reference page.

Subj: false positive for benzodiazepam?
Date: 6/5/2008
Can bactrican- sulfameth/trimethoprim 800/160, or bactroban cream cause a false positive for benzodiazepam? I have no idea why I tested positive for this. Thank you for your help.

Chris

AskDocWeb: Sorry Chris, none of those products are on our list. If you think it is a false positive then getting a GC/MS confirmation test would likely be helpful.

Subj: Positive for TCH
Date: 6/9/2008
I just had a rapid drug screen today and it showed up positive for TCH. I have never done any drugs in my entire life and am sick at the results. I do have rheumatoid arthritis and I do take 500 mg of Naproxen twice a day and have been for 4 monthes now. Could this have caused the positive result and if so will it cause a positive result in the pathology report from the lab (they send the positives from the rapid screen to there lab to be run by a pathologist.). I’m very concerned by this as my job is at stake. Thank you.

Gretchen

AskDocWeb: Naproxen has been reported to cause a false positive for THC (Ref: 1, 3, 16, 21). You may want to show them your medication bottle. Hopefully they will listen but if they don’t then get a GC/MS confirmation test.

Subj: False positives
Date: 6/9/2008
Your list has a couple errors: multiple times you state that codeine (Tylenol #3&4) will cause a false positive for opiates. Since codeine IS an opiate, obviously this would result in a true positive for opiates, not a false positive. Also, poppy seeds contain (technically not contain, but have on their surface) opium, which contains codeine as well as morphine. They also contain thebaine, from which oxycodone is made. Some of the new instant-read test give a false positive for oxycodone, morphine, and codeine – all from a little poppy seed foods. great list – many thanks!

Jeff

Subj: Is it possible
Date: 6/13/2008
Drug test came + for amphetamines, she said she took cold remedies such as Nyquil and Robuttusin is it possible it is a false + test?

Ayse

AskDocWeb: Yes, you can check the list here.

Subj: Robitussin
Date: 6/18/2008
I know someone who has never taken meth and had taken Robotussin cough syrup during pregnacy and lost her child. Can you tell me if Robotussin will cause a false positive for meth?

Holly

AskDocWeb: Yes, see this list.

Subj: Vicodin
Date: 6/18/2008
I tested positive for tmc but I have never done drugs before but took a vicodin for pain will that cause a positive drug test?

Sharon

AskDocWeb: Yes, Vicodin contains synthetic opiates.

Subj: vicadin?
Date: 6/20/2008
I was wondering he vicadin will give you a false positive for cocaine on a drug test? Thank you.

Ashley

AskDocWeb: Vicodin ESĀ® contains synthetic opiates (Ref: 3, 18)

Subj: Positive for Thc
Date: 6/20/2008
Hi I am living in A sober house and I am a recovering Heroin Addict. I recently got a drug test and came back positive for Thc and benzos. I am really boggled by this because I have done neither of these in at least 10 years, is there anything at all that could have caused this? I am truly upset by this!!!

Tara

AskDocWeb: Yes, several things show up on our list of products that have been reported to cause problems on urine tests.

Subj: ETG test for alcohol
Date: 6/21/2008
I had to take a ETG test for alcohol. I have not had a drink in over 2 months but it came up positive. I use an inhaler and take these drugs. Trilptal, Vistaril, Promethazine, Abilify, Tramadol, Seroquil Can any of these cause a false positive or is there anything I maybe using daily that could cause this?

Lily

AskDocWeb: The ETG test is widely-used by drug-testing laboratories to detect alcohol consumption but according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration it may be too inaccurate to be reliable. They claim that the EtG (Ethyl Glucuronide) test is too sensitive to distinguish between actual alcohol consumption and exposure to small amounts of alcohol found in many household and personal hygiene products.
SAMHSA’s research showed that a positive EtG test can result from the use of hand sanitizers, medications, hygiene products, cosmetics, foods and other products that contain even small levels of alcohol. People can test positive for alcohol consumption after being exposed to laundry detergent, antiperspirant, aftershave and even hair spray. SAMHSA says that “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.”

Subj: Hemp oil
Date: 6/23/2008
I have switched my normal diet to an all vegan one to try to drop some weight. Most of my recipes use hemp oil in the cooking process and at least 1 cup of hemp seeds. Will this cause a false positive for marijuana.

Keith

AskDocWeb: Yes, it is possible.

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