Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 89

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: Positive for cocaine
Date: 5/8/2010
The other day dcbs came knocking on my door for the first time ever investigating something that they never specified. They sent for a drug screen at our local jail where there are no medically trained ppl to administer them anyway but it came back positive for cocaine and ive never done cocaine in my life! They came and took my kids away and now im having to fight to get them back what cou.d have caused this i dont take any medicines except tylenol and im on the depo shot?

Mattie

AskDocWeb: It sounds like you will need to talk to an attorney for legal help. There are specific procedures that have to be followed for a drug screen and if they didn’t follow the rules, well, talk to a lawyer.

Subj: Is a false positive possible?
Date: 5/9/2010
I take lexapro, abilify, and strattera and my urine tests are coming up positive for benzodiazepines. Is a false positive possible?

Rosemary

AskDocWeb: All the urine tests and urine drug screens have a false positive rate so yes, it is possible. That is why our legal system requires a confirmation test. However, the drugs you list have not been reported to cause a false positive on urine drug screens.

Subj: Positive for ethyl alcohol
Date: 5/9/2010
I have had two positive etg tests and I test twice a week. I have been sober for six months and attend this testing because of my wife’s cps case to gain custody of my daughter. I could not figure out the source of the ethyl alcohol until I looked at the ingredients online of my chewing tabacco, it has ethyl alcohol in it. Can you tell me any more information like how much ethyl alcohol does it take to produce a positive test? And how do I fight this in court? I feel helpless and I am a regular AA meeting attender and have a sponser who I work a good program with, so for them to tell me I’m drinking anyway really hurts me on a personal level. It hasnt been easy the last six months to stay sober and then for them to tell me I’m not really hurts. Any help would be appreciated.

Joshua

AskDocWeb: It takes very little alcohol to produce a positive EtG test result. According to an advisory issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 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. SAMHSA stands for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

According to SAMHSA’s research, positive EtG tests can result from the use of hand sanitizers, medications, hygiene products, cosmetics, perfumes, colognes, 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.

Subj: Baclofen
Date: 5/12/2010
What does Baclofen 20 mg show up as in a urine test I have heard that some muscle relaxers will show up in the urine depending on how long you have been taking it, I’ve been taking it for 2yrs.

Tlb

AskDocWeb: Baclofen does not show up on the standard urine tests. They are only looking for commonly abused drugs.

Subj: Test positive for METH?
Date: 5/13/2010
What over the counter medicines and what foods (if any) would make your (urine) test positive for METH. Please answer ASAP. Thank you so much for your assistance in this matter.

Sharon

AskDocWeb: Over the counter medicines and prescription drugs are listed together on the following list.

  • Accutrim
  • Adderall
  • Afrin
  • Allerest
  • Amfepramone
  • Bronkaid
  • Cathne
  • Combivent inhaler
  • Contact
  • Dexatrim
  • Dimetapp
  • Ephedrine
  • Etafediabe
  • Marax
  • Mesocarb
  • Morazone
  • Nyquil
  • Phenegan-D
  • Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)
  • Pholedrine
  • Primatine Tablets
  • Redux
  • Robitussin Cold and Flu
  • Sudafed
  • Tavist-D
  • Vicks Inhaler
  • Vicks Nyquil

The full list can be found here. Please note that this list may not contain all products that might test positive for meth on a urine test. Readers are encouraged to add to this list.

Subj: Tested positive for amphetamines
Date: 5/14/2010
I had a drug screen that I tested positive for amphetamines. I have DDS and asthma and anxiety disorder and take prsciptin meds for those disorders. I also have acid refulx and take alka setzer and zantac could either of the list above make me test positive for the amphetimene. my scripts are albuteral, vicidan and soma and zantex, the ohers are over the counter. I am just about the positive result for the amphetemine. I need answers.

Rhonda

AskDocWeb:
Of the drugs you list, only the Alka-Seltzer has been reported to sometimes show up as a false positive for Amphetamines. (See references 1, 2, and 7)

Subj: Positive for LSD
Date: 5/16/2010
I am attempting to enter the armed services, however up at meps (military entrance processing station), I was supposed to be signing contract which provides me with an amazing opportunity, I was told my urine screen came back positive for LSD, a drug that I have never been offered let alone imbibed. Now I didn’t take any OTC meds or prescription medications 5 days prior to going in for my full physical/ drug screen because I am aware of the possibility for false positives. However, I recently quit taking my prescription of adderall xr 30 mg a week prior to the test, I don’t see any chemical structure similarities between the metabolites produced by amphetamines and those produced by LSD, also given the fact that my screen only came up positive for LSD (no other pos. results except the one mentioned) I think this is not a factor on the test. Still though could this be a factor in my screen coming back positive for LSD?

I have already gone through the false positive list on this website, and am researching rather extensively the nature of LSD testing/ false positives. Testing for military for future reference All urine screened via immunoassay, if all results negative will not be screened further. -If screened positive will be tested further with either gas chromatography or mass spectrometry, possibly both. ANY HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! I can’t let this blow the amazing contract I am being offered.

Mark

AskDocWeb: As you no doubt have found out, information on false positives for LSD is extremely scarce. Your best source of information would be a toxicologist but even someone that works for a toxicology lab could be useful. Another avenue to follow up might be the companies that make the drug tests. We lack the time to do that but would welcome and publish any feedback you may get from them.

Subj: Ambien
Date: 5/17/2010
Will ambien show as a false positive for any thing on a drug screen?

Amber

AskDocWeb: No, Ambien is not on the list but Ambien users have reported other problems you may want to read about.

Subj: Positive for THC
Date: 5/17/2010
I had a hystercormy in Feb of this year. I was on a lot of pain medications. I was prescribed Ibuprofen 800mg. I have been taken some days 3 a day due to back pain and headaches. I took a drug test for a new job and they did the drug test inhouse. It came back positive for THC. I have never smoked a day in my life. I was then sent to have a test done at the lab and had to pay for it myself. The test came back neg. How is this possible. This job also asked there pharmarist and he said he never heard of Ibuprofen having positive for THC.

Reka

AskDocWeb: You have to remember that testing for illegal drugs is not likely to be your pharmacist’s specialty. However, the people that make drug testing kits have admitted that this does happen. (www.http://www.vitrodiagnostic.com/faq.html)

Subj: Labetalol
Date: 5/18/2010
I have a friend who takes Labetalol for hypertension. She tested positive for Amphetimines. Is that a possible false positive?

Lucia

AskDocWeb: Labetalol has not been reported to cause a false positive for amphetamines.

Subj: Vyvanse?
Date: 5/18/2010
will vyvnase show up in my system if I took it at 7am. and I have a drug test on the next day at 845am..?.and what can I do to get it out?

Dee

AskDocWeb: Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate)) is a stimulant medicine and is in the amphetamine class of drugs. As long as you have a prescription for it you should be fine. The molecular structure of Vyvanse consists of dextroamphetamine coupled with the essential amino acid L-lysine. The half-life of this drug is highly variable because the rate of excretion is very sensitive to urinary pH. Under alkaline conditions, direct excretion is negligible and over 95% of the dose is metabolized. Having an alkaline stomach will cause the drug to be absorbed faster through the stomach resulting in a higher blood level concentration of amphetamine. Having an alkaline bladder causes the drug to be excreted very slowly.

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