I tested positive for benzo and i do not take benzo help

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi Nurses,

pleASE help...i did a urine drug test yesterday for a new job and tested positive for benzodiazepam...i have never taken that in my entire life and i dont do drugs of any kind.

i am currently taking bactrim ds for a foot infection and thought that the antibiotcs has to be the cause. they told me the lab would call me and then ask me for the pharmacy info

i called the pharmacist today about the BACTRIM DS ALSO CALLED SULFAMETH/ TMP DS. HE SAID hes not aware of that causing a positive drug test.

i looked on the internet last night and found 1 article that states bactrim causes positive result for benzo

HELP I AM HURT BECAUSE I AM INNOCENT

Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
Mmm, nope. Go back and reread her first post. She said she asked a pharmacist and he said he's not aware of Bactrim causing a positive for benzos.

She also said that she had already (or is about to) turned over her Bactrim scrip info to the lab. So there's nothing more to "turn over" to them. She has repeatedly stated in this thread that the Bactrim is the ONLY thing she's taken in the past month.

Read post 24.

What I find odd is that the collection person "allegedly" tested the sample immediately?

I find that very, very strange...never heard of that.

In my state, drug testing companies are very tightly regulated...you CANNOT test anything "on the spot" unless you are a licensed medical lab technician or technologist and if she has to "send it to the lab" that tells me that she was probably trained in collection but not testing and therefore, not certified.

Again, I think that the OP is freaking out over nothing because she has not been told that the results are official (which they are obviously not) and the sample wasn't even sent to a lab...therefore, the "positive" result may have been only a trace amount and not met minimum federal guidelines to even be reported as a positive result.

People are remembering horror stories from the 80's when drug testing was new and people lost jobs over false positives, trace amounts and poppy seed bagals all the time.

That doesn't happen anymore folks! If you have a list of everything you have taken, both over the counter and prescription, it can all be explained.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
I inferred it from your statement when you said "turn over the prescriptions" (plural)

I apologize if that's not what you meant.

I see..no problemo..

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
What I find odd is that the collection person "allegedly" tested the sample immediately?

I don't find that odd at all. WHere I work now, that's how they did it. I peed in a cup, brought the cup out to the tech, and he dripped it onto a plastic disk (similar to a home pregnancy test kit) with lots of little windows. It came up with either a positive or negative for each window. I watched him do it and we had a conversation about the technology.

I'm guessing "send it to the lab" means that if it tested positive for anything, a drug lab probably does further testing on it.

The crucial thing between my experience and hers is that my pee never left my sight the entire time.

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.
Read post 24.

What I find odd is that the collection person "allegedly" tested the sample immediately?

I find that very, very strange...never heard of that.

In my state, drug testing companies are very tightly regulated...you CANNOT test anything "on the spot" unless you are a licensed medical lab technician or technologist and if she has to "send it to the lab" that tells me that she was probably trained in collection but not testing and therefore, not certified.

Companies still do a lot of "dipstick urine tests" my husband used to be a safety manager and did pre-employment and injury drug testing. if anything came back positive then it was sent on for more expensive lab testing.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
I don't find that odd at all. WHere I work now, that's how they did it. I peed in a cup, brought the cup out to the tech, and he dripped it onto a plastic disk (similar to a home pregnancy test kit) with lots of little windows. It came up with either a positive or negative for each window. I watched him do it and we had a conversation about the technology.

I'm guessing "send it to the lab" means that if it tested positive for anything, a drug lab probably does further testing on it.

The crucial thing between my experience and hers is that my pee never left my sight the entire time.

.....and what you are saying makes sense.

I guess it is a cost-saving measure...if the dipstick doesn't test positive for anything (even a trace amount), then there is no point in doing further testing.

I have just never seen them use that here...but at my hospital, they took blood.

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i think you are freaking out over nothing.

First of all, drug testing is not in it's infancy..it is an exact science now and basic prescriptions, drug testing companies are well aware of what causes a false positive.

Nowhere in your post did you state that:

1. The employer nor the drug testing company called you with the results...you did not state how you got them.

2. That you were given the opportunity to provide a prescription list.

I have never, ever heard of a drug screen testing positive, that would not permit you to hand over valid prescriptions and that is when the documentation is complete.

I deal with drug testing every day and very often it will appear on the lab results, "patient has a valid prescription for ______ which has been known to cause a false positive for ___________________".

Everyone is stating "get an attorney, etc."...none of that is going to help you if you never turn over the prescriptions.

Seriously...do you really think that the physician and pharmacist know that it causes a false-positive...and that the drug testing company, who does nothing but drug testing...doesn't?

all this was done yesterday

1. I did the urine test and it was read in a few minutes and i was told its positive for benzo

2, i did list the medication i was on before the test it was bactrim ds

3. The nurse at the hospital said she would send it to the lab and i would be contacted

if you check my responses i gave a lot of detail

i know nothing else except what i was told every thing happened so fast i had no time to plan abc as youre suggesting plus i never in my life tested positive so i know in my heart its a false positive

but they dont know me but its ok...funny enough i have to a drug test tomorrow for agency work at a hospital and decided not to take the bactrim today and tomorrow until after the drug test...i can hardly wait fore the result

thanks anyway for all your input

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Go back and read her post...she CLAIMS that the pharmacist told her that the antibiotic that she is taking causes a false-positive.

The drug testing company has to report the positive benzo results HOWEVER has to follow up with a report, after verification, of ALL prescriptions she is taking and IF the anti-biotic she is taking does cause a false-positive for benzo's..they put that in their report that they have verified her prescription..and the employer is left to interpret the results.

It is also important to note that there is FEDERAL MANDATES as far as how much of a drug has to be present in order to qualify as a legal "positive" and these are noted on lab results.

This too, is a known factor with false-positives...in other words, it should cause a borderline, not a sky-high false-positive.

Again, the drug testing company, IF they are responsible, gets ALL prescriptions for this very reason.

The other reason they get ALL prescriptions is because drug combinations, should the individual be taking more than one, can also cause false-positives.

YOU MISUNDERSTOOD the pharmacist i called said bactrim and benzo are not related and should not cause a positive result

so now i am puzzled but i know the test result is wrong

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She's not taking any prescriptions (except for an antibiotic). She has never taken any benzos. I.E. there are no scripts for her to turn over.

thanks for clearing up the information i guess some people are not reading and understanding my post

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Read post 24.

What I find odd is that the collection person "allegedly" tested the sample immediately?

I find that very, very strange...never heard of that.

In my state, drug testing companies are very tightly regulated...you CANNOT test anything "on the spot" unless you are a licensed medical lab technician or technologist and if she has to "send it to the lab" that tells me that she was probably trained in collection but not testing and therefore, not certified.

Again, I think that the OP is freaking out over nothing because she has not been told that the results are official (which they are obviously not) and the sample wasn't even sent to a lab...therefore, the "positive" result may have been only a trace amount and not met minimum federal guidelines to even be reported as a positive result.

People are remembering horror stories from the 80's when drug testing was new and people lost jobs over false positives, trace amounts and poppy seed bagals all the time.

That doesn't happen anymore folks! If you have a list of everything you have taken, both over the counter and prescription, it can all be explained.

the urine test was done at the hospital medical facility and yes i received the results in a few minutes...........because they do things differently where u live does not mean thats how its done every where

i have worked at nursing home and they take urine sample and tell me the results right away it depends on the facility....... at my other job they send me to a lab and i know in a few days. so rules vary from facility to facility

i am not concerned that much anymore i am getting over this whole thing i will just wait for the results now since she sqaid she was going to send it to the lab.......i will cross that bridge when i get there

THANKS TO MOST OF MY FELLOW NURSES RN AND LPN FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT AND BEING NONJUDGEMTAL

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i don't find that odd at all. Where i work now, that's how they did it. I peed in a cup, brought the cup out to the tech, and he dripped it onto a plastic disk (similar to a home pregnancy test kit) with lots of little windows. It came up with either a positive or negative for each window. I watched him do it and we had a conversation about the technology.

I'm guessing "send it to the lab" means that if it tested positive for anything, a drug lab probably does further testing on it.

The crucial thing between my experience and hers is that my pee never left my sight the entire time.

thank you thats exactly what happened

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
the urine test was done at the hospital medical facility and yes i received the results in a few minutes...........because they do things differently where u live does not mean thats how its done every where

i have worked at nursing home and they take urine sample and tell me the results right away it depends on the facility....... at my other job they send me to a lab and i know in a few days. so rules vary from facility to facility

i am not concerned that much anymore i am getting over this whole thing i will just wait for the results now since she sqaid she was going to send it to the lab.......i will cross that bridge when i get there

THANKS TO MOST OF MY FELLOW NURSES RN AND LPN FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT AND BEING NONJUDGEMTAL

Good lord, Nobody judged you!!!!

Non-judgemental statement would include: Telling you not to worry about anything until you got an official result...a pharmacist is not a certified medical lab technician and may or may not be knowledgeable on what may cause a false-positive on a test.

Judgemental statement would include: Stop trying to blame the test and get off of whatever else you are taking.

Jeez!

Yes, I read your post...and #24, you contradicted yourself.

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Good lord, Nobody judged you!!!!

Non-judgemental statement would include: Telling you not to worry about anything until you got an official result...a pharmacist is not a certified medical lab technician and may or may not be knowledgeable on what may cause a false-positive on a test.

Judgemental statement would include: Stop trying to blame the test and get off of whatever else you are taking.

Jeez!

Yes, I read your post...and #24, you contradicted yourself.

post 24

i am not sure that will help because its internet source and the pharmacist states differently....i just came from my dr office also and she said its a false positive and i should ask my employer for a retest...................

and guess what i signed up for some agency work and i have to do drug testing tomorrow now i am afraid TO TAKE THE ANTIBIOTICS FOR FEAR it may show up POSITIVE AGAIN even though the pharmacIST and doctor said otherwise. i thing i am going to hold off on my pill..i did not take the bactrim today and i wont take it until tomorrow after the drug test for this new agency i signed up with.

can u blame me?

NOW WHAT ARE U TALKING ABOUT WHY do u focus on how i contradicted my self what are u talking about.....u do not understand what you are reading and many of the nurses here are correcting your statements......its simple

the pharmacist....the one that i called on the phone NOT THE INTERNET INFOrMATION I READ......THE PHARMACIST informed me that bactrim should not change the result of my urine and the doctor said the same thing...thats all i hope u understand now.

however i did not take my bactrim YESTERDAY i will wait until i take my drug screening today with a agency NOT THE HOSPITAL THAT SAID I TESTED POS FOR BENZO

i sure hope u understand now i cant be any more plain and simple than that. this will be my last post to you....i want to move on...

when i find out the results i will let everyone know

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