Drug testing issue.

athena55, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

Hi

Smells like an urban legend!

I am a UPL (Unit Prevention Leader) in the Army's Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP). I help supervise urine/drug testings that are done on post.

Were you asked to list the current medications that you are taking? If not, I would be sure to have a list ready IF you are questioned.

I also take Vitamin B complex and I have never had my urine "questioned" or failed a urine test. I am sure your urine will be okay and not fail the drug tox

athena

Okay check out this web page I found: http://www.acep.org/pressroom.aspc?id=25882

Lachrymologist · Mar 12, 2009

No, they did not ask me for a list of medications I'm on. Not sure why... Thank you for your response. And that link doesn't seem to be working. I also wanted to mention that I've read they also look at the color of the urine and if its too bright or too clear they get suspicious. Well, as we all know, my urine looked like highlighter fluid after that b complex. Do they use urine color as a determining factor?

ERjodiRN · Mar 12, 2009

i think the reason they say taking vit b can help you pass a test is because some hospitals use this blue liquid in the toilet before you pee. if it's green when they come back in the know that you actually urinated because of the color change. however, i guess people have taken a vit b tablet and placed it in water and tried to use that instead. totally retarded if you ask me. labs can tell the difference between water and urine. and i'm honestly not quite sure how they would even test for vit b specifically, because there are many other vitamins that do the same thing to your urine. i think you're going to be fine.

~jodi

Lachrymologist · Mar 12, 2009

Nevermind...

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

Lachrymologist said:
No, they did not ask me for a list of medications I'm on. Not sure why... Thank you for your response. And that link doesn't seem to be working. I also wanted to mention that I've read they also look at the color of the urine and if its too bright or too clear they get suspicious. Well, as we all know, my urine looked like highlighter fluid after that b complex. Do they use urine color as a determining factor?

They didn't ask to protect your privacy.

Not all drugs are tested for on a drug screen.....that would be impossible. So it is more common now to ask you for a list and/or if you are taking a specific drug and ask you to produce the prescription after the first test...but most will not report the drug you are on to the employer if don't by a 3rd party.

Lachrymologist · Mar 12, 2009

Don't they have to let me retake the test on the off chance that my fears are realized?

detroitdano · Mar 12, 2009

If you didn't get the results yet, you need to call the testing center and tell them anything you were taking at that time. Meds, supplements/vitamins, etc. Anything that can throw it into a false positive will be treated as a true positive if you don't give them a list of what you were taking prior to the test.

I used to take Trileptal up until last week when a biochem profile showed my liver enzymes were up, now I'm on Keppra. Anyways, the Trileptal has a tendency to make TCA's show up as a false positive. I listed my meds prior to my test, the NP in the office spoke with me and wrote a note to include with the copy of the test for my college and I went about my way.

southernbeegirl, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2009

Lachrymologist said:
Don't they have to let me retake the test on the off chance that my fears are realized?

no they dont.

it also strikes me as strange that you are this worried because you take a vitamin.

LilyBlue · Mar 13, 2009

I always took a multivitamin back at the time I was hired - my urine was always neon yellow from that...never had a problem.

humglum, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2009

When I first started taking drug tests they would ask what medications I was taking. Now they don't. If, for some reason, you test positive the person that interprets the tests will call you (using the number you provided) and discuss it with you, ask you about any OTC or prescription medications you are taking and do a more specific test.

I know how you feel, though. We just recently had an incident at work and were all drug tested, right after I had taken a boatload of sudafed and nyquil to get through my weekend. I saw in a couple of places that nyquil can test positive for methadone for 2 days following ingestion. I'm still not sure if that's true but I haven't heard anything.

So no news is good news.

Try not to worry! And you can always request a repeat test. If your employer is interested in working with you they'll usually grant that (although I've heard of some nurses have to pay for it themselves).

Lachrymologist · Mar 13, 2009

I'm worried because I've never taken a drug test before. Believe me, I don't do drugs. I've always been too paranoid to subject myself to various chemicals. I did talk to someone tonight who told me, before I even mentioned vitamins, that a multivitamin he was taking at the time of his drug test indeed caused him to get a false positive. I know this person doesn't do drugs. So, I believe its possible. I also take 2 buspar and 3 melatonin at night to help me sleep. I also take a lot of supplements due to confirmed vitamin deficiencies that I'm fighting. Mostly vitamin d and zinc. My doctor recommended I also supplement with a multivitamin. So it just occurred to me that having that much stuff in my urine at once could throw something off.