Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 91

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 THC
Date: 6/1/2010
positive for thc. tylonal, ib prophin, prenatals, birth control. 8 panal drug screen.

Jill

Subj: False positive for norfentanyl?
Date: 6/2/2010
I recently tested false positive for norfentanyl and do not take that. I took a zofran odt that morning for nausea, would that cause a false positive?

KARLA

AskDocWeb: Sorry Karla, those drugs are not on the list. Remember that the results are not recognized as a false positive until the sample has gone through additional testing, such as the GC/MS confirmation test.

Subj: Positive drug test
Date: 6/2/2010
Will taking unique hoodia cause me to have a positive drug test? I am perscribed prozac, birth control and vistral for sleeping. Will any of these cause a positive drug test?

Mariss

AskDocWeb: Prozac (Fluoxetine) has been reported to sometimes show up as a false positive for amphetamines (Reference 31). The others have not been reported to cause any problems on urine drug tests.

Subj: Protonix
Date: 6/4/2010
I just took a blood drug test yesterday and am now getting concerned because I am reading that a medication that I am taking can cause a false positive for THC. I take Protonix 40mg’s but only take it when I really need it. It just happened that I took one the night before my blood test. I have read that it can cause a false positive on a urine test but am not sure if that would also apply for a blood test. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Jessica

AskDocWeb: We have not heard of Protonix causing any problems with blood tests but in the unlikely event of that happening, a GC/MS confirmation test should correctly identify it.

Subj: Positive for opiates, benzodiazepines and oxycodone
Date: 6/9/2010
I take Valium and Lortab, I got drug tested and I showed positive for opiates, benzodiazepines and oxycodone. I know I haven’t took a oxycodone. So why would it show up in my drug screen? Please tell me.

Shelly

AskDocWeb: We don’t know about the oxycodone but Valium contains benzodiazepines and Lortab is an opioid analgesic (PDR). Of course additional testing may be required in order to tell if the oxycodone is really there or not, and that means a GC/MS confirmation test.

Subj: Positive for THC and methamphetamine
Date: 6/9/2010
I recently had to take a urinalysis tox screen for the VA and it turned up that I was positive for both THC and Methanphetamine. I haven’t smoke pot since I was 21 (I’m now 52)however, my husband is on medical marijuana, so that could be second-hand smoke. I have never EVER used meth or any other stimulant in my life. The only thing that has changed since my last UA was that I was put on Bupropion (Wellbutrin for a couple of weeks starting a few days before the test, could be the reason for the false positive?

Barbara

AskDocWeb: Wellbutrin has been reported to sometimes show up as a false positive for amphetamines but not methamphetamine. Secondhand marijuana smoke is known to cause positives on urine drug tests.

Update February 3, 2011: Kevin George appealed his dismissal as a police sergeant in the City of Newark following a random drug test on which he tested positive for marijuana. In regards to GC/MS testing and secondhand marijuana smoke: According to testimony by a toxicologist, Robert Havier, Ph.D.: “some studies suggested passive inhalation could result in levels up to 20 ng/ml.”

http://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2011/a3538-08-opn.html

Subj: Positive for cocaine and THC
Date: 6/10/2010
Hello, I am currently taking Methadone and was dismissed from a new doctor’s office because he kept pushing me to get off methadone and go on suboxone. I have tried suboxone before and it is not my favorite. However, I am willing to try again, but I currently do not have health insurance and cannot afford suboxone. I went to another doctor office and they were able to take me on as a patient and prescribe Methadone, only after a urine drug test. I take a bunch of OTC meds and natural meds as well and sure enough showed positive for cocaine and THC. I HAVE NOT DONE THOSE! so I was not able to my script. They are sending it off to a more in-depth lab. Can they tell if it’s real drugs or a false positive? I take Acid reducer (Famotidine) a daily vitamin, fish oil, vitamin d, 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptohpan, from Griffonia simplicifolia seeds) Mucinex D, Suphedrine PE, Wellbutrin, Prozac, recently prescribe Nuvigil, Vitamin B Super complex, Ginseng, Ginko Biloba. So…i noticed certa in things above showing as cocaine and THC. Could this be my problem?

Annie

AskDocWeb: Yes, they can tell the difference. That is the purpose of the in-depth analysis at an outside lab, to confirm the identity of real drugs present in your sample and to eliminate false positives.

Please note that some of the herbs you are using have health concerns.

Subj: Custody battle
Date: 6/10/2010
I am currently going through a custody battle. me and my husband have use meth in the past but have been clean for five years. He paid for me to have a hair follicle test. I have taken many of the medicines on the list that can cause false positives over the past few months and also I am diabetic and have kidney infection. I don’t want to loose custody of my daughter over my health condition cause It does affect me taking care of her.

Brandi

Subj: False positive pregnancy test
Date: 6/10/2010
I am a Laboratory Scientist, although all evidence I can find is anecdotal. I have seen a positive qualitative pregnancy test on a patient that was NOT pregnant when a quantitative HCG test was done. The only drug the patient was taking was Phentermine. Multiple testing was done and that is the only explanation that fits in this particular case.

Sid

Subj: Positive for Benzodiazepine
Date: 6/10/2010
Our son is taking Retin_A Micro (tretinoin gel) microsphere, 0.04%, for his acne and she is about to start a summer job and her drug screen may be showing positive for Benzodiazepine and takes no other medication. Could this cause a false positive?

Vic

AskDocWeb: No form of tretinoin has shown up the urine drug screens that test for drug abuse.

Subj: Products that may test positive for drugs
Date: 6/10/2010
I am in a program for nurses, and am trying to find out what natural, herbal products may test positive for drugs or alcohol. I currently consume: omega 3, liquid b12, A multi and an E. I would like to start taking COQ10 but there is no info on this product and drug testing. Are you aware of any natural products that cause false positives?

Aileen

AskDocWeb:
Several products from Eastern medicine, mostly Chinese, have shown up on urine drug tests; Black Pearls (Tung Sheuh pills), Chinese herb pills, Cows head pills, Potentsex pills (Chinese herb), and Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica). Other natural or herbal products on the list are Coca tea, Coca leaf, Coca flour, Coca oil, Coffee-Break, Ephedra, Hemp seed Oil and shampoos containing hemp, quinine in Tonic water, and straight Tonic water.

Subj: Marijuana
Date: 6/11/2010
I am an RN being monitored w urine drug tests occasionally. I have never smoked marijuana, my test came back with a level of 13nano. They said their cutoff is 10, so i can be fired. I am doing b12 inj w HCG hormone, a new diet thru naturapathic doctor, the protein powder has a number of ing. one coconut oil, and hemp protein oil, what could it be? I need recorse Thanks

Jill

AskDocWeb: Since your job depends on it, you may want to reconsider using any products that have hemp in them such as tanning lotion containing hemp, hemp shampoo, hemp seed, and hemp protein oil. Marijuana comes from the hemp plant.

Subj: State law
Date: 6/11/2010
Is there a law requiring the state/jail to retest urine for a positive test for Amphetamines to see what drug it came from?

Carrie

AskDocWeb: Unfortunately laws can vary from one state to the next on drug testing. However, you can call your state’s attorney general to find the exact answer for your state.

Subj: Cheratussin AC
Date: 6/12/2010
Hello, my husband tested positive on a hair drug test recently. In April he took cheratussin AC for chronic cough. The toxicologist has requested the name of the medicine. Why did he need this? Thanks,

Michelle

AskDocWeb: We can only speculate but there may have been some doubt or inconsistency in the results that required the name of the drug so that they could research it.

Subj: Adderall
Date: 6/13/2010
I have ADD and am taking adderall. Will that show up as cocaine in a urine or hair drug test? Please email me your reply.

Maureen

AskDocWeb: Thanks for posting your question Maureen. Unfortunately we do not have the time available for individual email responses. Replies are posted so that everyone can read them so remember to use your bookmarks. Adderall is an amphetamine that sometimes shows up as a positive for Meth but it has not been reported to show up as cocaine.

Subj: Fired after 17 years
Date: 6/14/2010
I was fired after 17 years in a warehouse profession. I read your articals on false positives on drug tests. What can I do to fight the system if I don’t have the income available who will stand up for people like me who are not drug users and go after these companys? I can’t even afford to get my drug test redone.

Dave

AskDocWeb: That is a tough situation. You may not have the income to do something about this but you do have more time now, so… Have you called the Attorney General for your state to find out if there is anything they can do for you? Also, there are a lot of attorneys listed in the yellow pages. We would start calling right down through that list to find the attorneys that specialize in employment law. Some lawyers offer the first half-hour of consultation at no charge. You might find a lawyer that would take your case on a no cost basis. If they win, they get a large share of the winnings but if they lose then you don’t owe them anything. Of course that would be a long shot but it does sometimes happen. Please understand that this is not legal advice and we are not lawyers. It is just an idea. Hope it helps.

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