False positive pre employment test job lost help!

MERCEDES674, MSN, RN · Jan 5, 2011

Maybe you should get a copy of your er report. Most drug screeners give you a chance to prove what you have taken and give you the option to retest. Since you are a new grad dont put that hospital on your resume'.

Sun0408, ASN, RN · Jan 5, 2011

You did not work there correct.. Why would they call for a reference? You do not have to put that place on your resume nor do you have to tell them about the offer..

I would do as above stated and get a copy of the ER report "just in case"...

rkitty198, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2011

Here is my story:

I was testing the same time as this other person was testing. I left the office having nothing to worry about until I got a call a week later saying I needed to show a proof of prescription for xanax. I never took anything like that! Long story short I took another test and it was negative and it turns out they got my urine mixed at the lab with someone else- they ended up finding the mistake themselves.

Even though my situation is different, here is where it might help:

They still asked me to prove that I have a script for that drug. I looked into it deeper because I was so freaked out, that they are not allowed to disclose the results of the test, until they give you the time to clarify with the drug testing company. So unless I was unable to provide proof of a prescription all they could tell my possible employer was that I failed the drug screen- however they gave me 72 hours to get proof. Dont give up! The long part of my story is that I had to fight the drug company. They gave the the runaround and made me feel awful, but at least I was able to get vindicated because of their error! Good luck!

So they should have given you the ability to give them proof of the meds given under medical supervision.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jan 5, 2011

Hello all -
I am a new grad nurse and accepted a position contingent on passing physical and drug screen. One week prior to test I was in the ED with kidney stones and was given fluids, pain meds and valium. I indicated to the nurse I had been on meds prior to the drug screen. The results indicated I tested positive for "oxazepam".. I have never heard of this drug. After hours of research and speaking with pharmacy they indicated it is a metabolite of Valium which I did get IV in the ED. However, my job offer has been revoked and no one seems to care enough to listen to me. I am embarrassed, humiliated and upset however it seems I can't do anything about it.
Are there any Occ med nurses out there that have any advice?? Now I am afraid any other employer that may call for a reference will not hire me based on my position being revoked at this hospital.
Thank you in advance

Call your SNA. If nothing else they can get you a lawyer who is experienced representing nurses and get this test expunged from the record.

Emergency RN · Jan 5, 2011

no offense, but i find it odd that any ed physician chose to give valium when the meds usually involved in treating kidney stones are nsaids, anti-emetics, and opiates. moreover, the half life of oral valium is roughly 20-100 hours (ie. 1-4 days, with iv dose being much shorter) while it's active metabolite oxazepam lasts for only 4-15 hours (ie. less than a day). hence, if you were only given one dose a week before the drug screen, it should have been out of your system long before. while traces of metabolites can be found in urine from chronic (ie months long) valium use, it would be highly unlikely for a single iv dose to persist in this manner.

the presence of the oxazepam (a minor metabolite) indicated that you had some active form of valium in you that had been metabolized less than one day before the test.

forgive me but, res ipsa loquitur.

Ayeloflo · Jan 5, 2011

I usually would make sure that I write somewhere on the lab requition form "NB: Donor takes Rx so and so". I also make sure that that I write it on the label of the specimen cup. Each time I tell the lab tech or whoever is collecting the sample, they normally ask me what date I took the last dose of the Rx medication.

I call the pharmacy to find out if I should wait for the drug to clear out of my system prior to the test. But, if I am required to take the drug test right then and there, then I insist that they acknowledge in writing that they are aware that I'm on medication that might show a false positive.

The reason why it's important to do so is that many times once you show positive on drug screen, false positive or true positive, the HR person might just lose interest in you and decide to go with the next applicant. Then they would tell you that they decided to pursue a more qualified applicant.

All the best.

Junebugfairy · Jan 5, 2011

i am bipolar and take medications to treat my condition, one of the meds i use is klonopin. i mentioned that one to the lab and i brought my bottle along for reference, just to dot all of my "i" and cross my "t".

i completely forgot that i had taken one of my prn narcotic pain medications for the past few days due to menstrual pain. every few months i will have a killer period, it is a fluke, and i use hydrocodone along with ibuprofen.

it was shown in the report. i simply made an appointment and went in to have a review of my meds, took my rx bottle in, and everything was perfect.

JStarr · Jan 5, 2011

Thanks for all the advice and information. The reason they will use this facility as a reference is I worked as a tech for awhile before taking a break and then returning for a nursing position, so it is on my resume.

I provided the ER report and MAR, along with RX for valium from awhile back. It is just very frustrating b/c the reason they said they won't review it is b/c there are time frames they called me on a Thursday at 10 am and gave me until 4 pm to provide all the documentation to prove RX and I was 1000 miles from home with no computer or fax so I did my best; I had no idea a drug I didn't take would show up? I told them valium may show up but they said I didn't test + for that one, it was the oxazepam.

I think this was simply a hard lesson learned and I will have to seek employment somewhere else, but will just make sure to take a drug screen prior to the required one to make sure. I was just treated very unfairly and humiliated. So, I shall seek employment elsewhere.

The biggest joke was my drug test was administered by handing me a cup, sending me to the public restroom along with my purse and jacket, alone. I made the deposit, flushed the toilet and washed my hands prior to returning the cup to the fill in nurse for Occupational med!

JStarr · Jan 5, 2011

I picked up the ED MAR to verify and yes it was given to me along with Toradol and IV fluids. I have to say I am as skeptic as you - but not dumb enough to take valium one day prior to a drug test. That is why this whole thing floors me, the actual urine test was 5 days after the ED visit.

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Jan 5, 2011

rkitty198; Never knew how the system worked, thanks for the scoop.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2011

Here is my story:
I was testing the same time as this other person was testing. I left the office having nothing to worry about until I got a call a week later saying I needed to show a proof of prescription for xanax. I never took anything like that! Long story short I took another test and it was negative and it turns out they got my urine mixed at the lab with someone else- they ended up finding the mistake themselves.
Even though my situation is different, here is where it might help:
They still asked me to prove that I have a script for that drug. I looked into it deeper because I was so freaked out, that they are not allowed to disclose the results of the test, until they give you the time to clarify with the drug testing company. So unless I was unable to provide proof of a prescription all they could tell my possible employer was that I failed the drug screen- however they gave me 72 hours to get proof. Dont give up! The long part of my story is that I had to fight the drug company. They gave the the runaround and made me feel awful, but at least I was able to get vindicated because of their error! Good luck!
So they should have given you the ability to give them proof of the meds given under medical supervision.

All take note about the lab having a responsibility to contact you first to prove a legal script; this is very true. If the lab consults the employer first; run, don't walk to a lawyer because you will have a huge suit.

When you are able to provide proof (you give your doc permission to talk to them etc...) the test result goes back to the employer as a negative. Privacy law forbid the drug labs to divulge any other info about you unless you can't prove legitimacy then and only then can they tell the employer the results.

To error is human and these labs make many mistakes no matter how careful they are and in the process lives are ruined. If you are innocent with a positive and they fire you or rescind an offer of employment; fight it. Both the lab and the employer are at fault.