Urine drug test too dilute??!!

[ijuanabhappy]

I have been stressed out all week when I have done nothing wrong. I had a pre-employment urine drug screen on Monday. I have taken plenty of urine drug screens with nursing school and jobs, etc. No problems- ever. I do not do drugs. I take a prescribed anti-anxiety medication but that is it and that is prn-- haven't taken it in over a week or so.

Well I went to the lab around 4pm in the afternoon on Monday. I do drink a lot of bottled water. I must have had too much water that day without realizing it. I also don't recall eating that much on that day. Any way, my specimen came out clear! The lab specimen collector told me that this would probably be rejected on the basis of being "too dilute". This has never happened to me before. But I have to admit, I,too, have never seen my urine so clear!

I still haven't heard from anybody on results or retesting. I have been googling "dilute urine" specimens because this has never happened to me. It seems like people think you tried to fool the test if you drink too much water. I wish I had thought about this and I would have laid off the water!! The next day I called the lab to find out if I needed to retest or was my specimen rejected. They said results were sent to employer but couldn't tell me anything else. I want to check with employer to make sure all is okay because I am supposed to go out of town to training this weekend for this new job... I need to know now if I need to go retest asap. I'm just scared to call employer because I don't want to sound suspicious for something I have not done!

I'm driving myself crazy over this. Will clear urine show a creatinine level? Or if I drank too much water will it result in a failed test? Help, what do I do??!!

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

If they've sent results to the employer that means the urine was fine and they took the results from the urine you gave. Other wise they would have called you first to retest; they don't involve the potential employers with the small details. They just give them results not potential maybes; you did say they sent something to the employer which means it's the results.

The adding water the the specimen never works anymore since they put the thermometer strip on the specimen cup. Adding water cools the urine and they reject it on the spot and have you test again...so don't worry about the water thing.

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

KellyRPNinOntario said:

I dont understand why you're so worried...if you have nothing to hide then it will all work out.

I'm only worried because of what I have read online. When the negative drug test is reported back to the employer, the lab will also attach a comment that it was "dilute", which mine apparently was according to the lab technician and it was definitely clear! The reason I'm scared is because some employers apparently will reject the dilute sample as if it were a positive test and not allow a retest. I'm just hoping and praying that if it was too dilute, they will allow me to retest!

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

tyvin said:

If they've sent results to the employer that means the urine was fine and they took the results from the urine you gave. Other wise they would have called you first to retest; they don't involve the potential employers with the small details. They just give them results not potential maybes; you did say they sent something to the employer which means it's the results.

The adding water the the specimen never works anymore since they put the thermometer strip on the specimen cup. Adding water cools the urine and they reject it on the spot and have you test again...so don't worry about the water thing.

I accidentally drank too much water that day, or did not eat enough. Anyway, my urine was clear because I was obviously overhydrated. They did check the temperature on it right away which was normal. But even if you drink too much water and it causes your urine to look dilute, the lab will report this finding to the employer with the negative result. It is up to the employer to accept the negative result, allow a retest if they are suspicious that someone was trying to "flush" their system, or reject the dilute sample entirely and not hire that person. That is what I'm worried about. The lab person said she was almost positive I would get a call back to come retest based on how clear the sample was. I haven't heard from anyone so I started doing online research on this and it has been driving me crazy. I've never had this happen before. I'm not going to worry about it though. I'm sure someone will call me soon if I need to do something additional. Thanks

[billyboblewis]

Having had my urine tested for years as part of RNP program I can say that if you are just doing a pre employment test they will generally just request another specimen. The best time to do this is in the AM. Participants in programs requiring specimens are often sent to Doctors if they have diluted urine. In your instance they probably would just collect an additonal specimen

[Aly529]

Have you heard back yet? Are you able to call them?

[JSlovex2]

i would've called the employer, explained what happened, and asked to retest the following day. if you were trying to hide drugs, they wouldn't be out of your system in one day so it wouldn't seem suspicious.

when i took my test i also had to have blood drawn so i was told not to eat/drink after midnight. i held my pee in the morning so it wouldn't be difficult to go in the lab, but i didn't fill the cup up enough. the nurse said i'd have to pee again - AND the urine they already collected had to be tossed as it couldn't be mixed. great! i sat there chugging water and after about 3 cups (the little culligan water machine cups) he told me i could only drink 5 or it would be diluted. thankfully i was able to go after waiting about an hour. it's stressful, i know, but it will work out.

[RN6157]

ijuanabhappy said:

I accidentally drank too much water that day, or did not eat enough. Anyway, my urine was clear because I was obviously overhydrated. They did check the temperature on it right away which was normal. But even if you drink too much water and it causes your urine to look dilute, the lab will report this finding to the employer with the negative result. It is up to the employer to accept the negative result, allow a retest if they are suspicious that someone was trying to "flush" their system, or reject the dilute sample entirely and not hire that person. That is what I'm worried about. The lab person said she was almost positive I would get a call back to come retest based on how clear the sample was. I haven't heard from anyone so I started doing online research on this and it has been driving me crazy. I've never had this happen before. I'm not going to worry about it though. I'm sure someone will call me soon if I need to do something additional. Thanks

Hello,

This is crazy, cause I'm goin through the exact same thing. I tested on Thursday, and drank a lot of water that day because the last time I had to test It took an hour to urinate because I couldnt urinate on the spot, therefore I made sure to come on a full bladder, and my urine was clear. It was also 90 degrees that day, and I was really thirsty. The lab tech said that they might make me retest because it was so clear but then she picked it up and the temp was normal, and she said it should be fine. I'm driving myself crazy, even though I'm completely fine because I dont do drugs, but I dont want anyone else thinkin that I do or tried to cover something up. Since its been a long time for you, have they called you, were u able to retest. Let me know..thanks

megan

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

MwRN said:

Hello,

This is crazy, cause I'm goin through the exact same thing. I tested on Thursday, and drank a lot of water that day because the last time I had to test It took an hour to urinate because I couldnt urinate on the spot, therefore I made sure to come on a full bladder, and my urine was clear. It was also 90 degrees that day, and I was really thirsty. The lab tech said that they might make me retest because it was so clear but then she picked it up and the temp was normal, and she said it should be fine. I'm driving myself crazy, even though I'm completely fine because I dont do drugs, but I dont want anyone else thinkin that I do or tried to cover something up. Since its been a long time for you, have they called you, were u able to retest. Let me know..thanks

megan

I know exactly how you feel. I don't do drugs and wasn't trying to cover up anything. THAT is what frustrates me. I wouldn't want anyone to even think that was a possibility. Everything was fine with my test being dilute (I presume). I never did get a call back to retest and have been working at the new job. I wish I could have given another sample though, the same day because the whole idea of them sending off that dilute sample bugged me to death. They closed down their drug testing for the day soon after I got there, so retesting wasn't offered. I'm sure you will be fine. Good luck!

[RN6157]

ijuanabhappy said:

I know exactly how you feel. I don't do drugs and wasn't trying to cover up anything. THAT is what frustrates me. I wouldn't want anyone to even think that was a possibility. Everything was fine with my test being dilute (I presume). I never did get a call back to retest and have been working at the new job. I wish I could have given another sample though, the same day because the whole idea of them sending off that dilute sample bugged me to death. They closed down their drug testing for the day soon after I got there, so retesting wasn't offered. I'm sure you will be fine. Good luck!

Thank you, I know thats what I'm worried about too..Ive heard they might consider it positive if it was too clear, and then not let me start. I already have a start date and everything so that would be horrible. I tested Thursday, and havent heard anything yet. Hope its good. Seems like the girl what of just made me retest in an hour or something if she knew it wasnt going to work.

[RN6157]

MwRN said:

Thank you, I know thats what I'm worried about too..Ive heard they might consider it positive if it was too clear, and then not let me start. I already have a start date and everything so that would be horrible. I tested Thursday, and havent heard anything yet. Hope its good. Seems like the girl what of just made me retest in an hour or something if she knew it wasnt going to work.

ALso, did you take yours at quest diagnostics?

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

If they were able to get a temp on it and didn't have you retest the same day, you should be fine. As I mentioned, I went in right before they closed their drug screenings for the day so they didn't give me that option. Did you go in the morning? Was there any color to your urine (faint yellow) or totally clear? Mine was totally clear which shocked me. I had never seen my urine clear like that! I guess if not testing, we aren't always examining our urine color in the toilet though. Oh, and I took mine at LabCorp. You are probably fine. I would think if anything, they would just call you to come in and retest.

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

iceprincess868 said:

It may also depend on the policy of the employer. The company I work for has in it's drug policy that a diluted urine sample is considered a positive drug test.

you do realise there is a difference between dilute and diluted ? or is this a case once against of 'narcotic panic'...