False positive for suboxone?

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2018

Bup is one of the more common false positives. Off the top of my head, Wellbutrin, Zanaflex, and atenolol can also all cause false positives. Not sure what OTCs you're on but many of those can also cause false positives. Hopefully they did a split specimen and will send it to be run on a GC/MS.

RNEulogy · Jul 4, 2018

Um- no split specimen... but she said she was going to send it out for confirmation testing. I just had a ua yesterday aside from seeing her. I assume she's just going to use what was in the i cup. That makes me nervous, though.. because it was sitting out during my entire evaluation. I guess she'd likely just test it for suboxone- but Ive heard if it ferments it could cause a positive etg -.- I really have no comfort in knowing these people have say over my career if they can't even drug test properly- but whatever. The psychiatrist is also taking away my tizanidine.. I believe that's what popped the positive. She'll let me have it for a month. I really despise this program more and more the longer I'm a participant. I don't trust these people and I don't buy into the "it's a great program" line everyone is feeding me. I told her I think some participants say that just to get released from the program successfully...you know- they drink the cool-aide. Lol. I'm sure it works for some people.. but not all. She insists my perception will change if I stay just a bit longer. I think they should quit punishing me for something that was completely unrelated to work. Too bad my argument against being in the program falls on deaf ears. I just wish this was all over. I've only been in a month. I hope this experience isn't indicative of how the rest of my time will be.

anyway- I rant. I appreciate your response- and congrats on your sobriety!

Kel65, MSN, RN · Jul 4, 2018

Fermentation does not cause false positive EtG. In fact increased bacteria reduces the levels of ETG in the specimen. Fermentation in the speciman

in certain cases can cause a very low false positive of ethylene which is the basic, non EtG alcohol test. I have a medical issue which causes false positives in the ethylene. We are are talking very trace

positive. I only do etgs now because of that. And,I had one specimen cited as invalid because it was too high in bacteria which would mean it would degrade the EtG and ECT. This was the split of of a speciman that had tested trace positive for ethylene and was shipped out over Christmas holidays for Egt.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2018

I've always found it perplexing that something that something that monitors healthcare professionals (who are constantly prompted to be on the forefront of evidenced based practice) utilize methods that can result in levels that are too high, too low, result for things that the person doesn't even ingest or are no where near or otherwise, have an efficacy level that can be easily questionable and is directed even by the manufacturer to not be acted upon in isolation. Utilizing these results, the program then forces the participant to puke up yet more money to prove that the result is not accurate, ie: guilty until proven innocent. In the real world, this behavior is totally inexplicable. Oh yeah, I forgot, it's all about the dollars.

Who cares if there really is a problem or not. Who cares if the participant really did do something. Who cares if a career or livelihood is destroyed by bad handling of a specimen or that sometimes there are legitimately prescribed medications that may trigger a positive for something else.

I've had the kool-aid of this stuff rammed at me for so long that I have learned that (besides the fact that you really can't beat recovery into a person. It's a highly personal decision that one has to make themselves) one of the major tenants is to be honest. Well, these programs should ought start with themselves. Just sayin'

Lisacar130 · Jul 4, 2018

Those cup tests aren't very good... the lab should be able to clear you. I had one of those cup tests show opiates once at the psychiatrist's office but the lab test that followed cleared me. The lab can do a lot more analyzing than that cup can do. I know a lot of meds can show a false positive for other things but that's what the lab is for and they will figure it out. If not, get a lawyer, but I have a good feeling it will work out for you.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2018

I'm on a certain med that makes those cup tests show positive for PCP. It's just those cup tests. The one pre-employment screen that used those, the person doing it knew about that and marked it off as negative. In the too **** many of the P tests I've done for this extortion racket, it's never been an issue so it either never comes up in a regular lab test or these things don't look for that particular substance. Heck if I know.

RNEulogy · Jul 5, 2018

Well, at least I know my urine sitting out isn't necessary a problem.. I'm assuming yeast infections can cause a problem? I guess it doesn't matter. They were doing a blood test a week for a little while.. I think they finally scaled it down to once a month ( I assume- that's what other people in the program seem to get) and now I only have one urine test a week, or thereabouts. I haven't been drinking any alcohol whatsoever since I started this program.. actually, 25 days before starting- but who's counting? lol. I quit using pot the day I was arrested. So about 4 months prior. Maybe more. No other substances. :/ Ironically, I wanted her to check the drug test right away because I was afraid she'd let it sit too long and it would be inaccurate. She asked me if I was afraid of popping a positive- I said no. Then BOOM! Lol. It sounds like the lab should clear me. I hope they don't **** something up. -.- I tell you what, though- I truly don't believe I was dangerous to practice prior to this program... IN the program- I'm not so sure. I'm so distraught I can't sleep much and I'm more angry and depressed then I e ever been in my entire adult life. If I tell them that, though- im afraid they'll tack time on for a mental health relapse. Anyone else super depressed/ feel like life has gotten way worse since entering their monitoring program? I'm not sure this is worth the misery.

Recovering_RN · Jul 5, 2018

Anyone else super depressed/ feel like life has gotten way worse since entering their monitoring program? I'm not sure this is worth the misery.

Oh yeah, definitely. I feel depressed at times, but mostly just paranoid and obsessed. I check my count down clock multiple times a day. (45 days left!!!). I obsess over all the things I want to do, jobs I want to apply for, trips I want to go on, even little food festivals and concert in the park events I want to go to, that I don't feel like I can do. Yeah I could work around my testing and AA/NA meetings to go on a trip if I really wanted to, but I'm afraid to. Afraid to call attention to myself by asking to take a trip, afraid to test positive because I went to a restaurant and some sauce had wine or wine vinegar or something in it. Food festivals and events like that seem always to have wine or beer offered, and damn it I LIKE wine and beer! I can say no, but I end up feeling sorry for myself seeing everyone around me trying the different wines offered by the wineries that attend the festivals or whatever, when I can't. So I just don't go, and feel depressed or left out.

So yeah, my life was out of control before, I know that. But the fear of false positives, the clench in my stomach EVERY TIME I check in, not wanting today to be a testing day, the annoyance when I'm selected to test because of the time involved when my day is already full and the cost involved when my credit card already has a hefty balance for this month, and the constant thoughts of "I can't wait until this is over" pretty much controls my life right now.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2018

Oh yeah, definitely. I feel depressed at times, but mostly just paranoid and obsessed. I check my count down clock multiple times a day. (45 days left!!!). I obsess over all the things I want to do, jobs I want to apply for, trips I want to go on, even little food festivals and concert in the park events I want to go to, that I don't feel like I can do. Yeah I could work around my testing and AA/NA meetings to go on a trip if I really wanted to, but I'm afraid to. Afraid to call attention to myself by asking to take a trip, afraid to test positive because I went to a restaurant and some sauce had wine or wine vinegar or something in it. Food festivals and events like that seem always to have wine or beer offered, and damn it I LIKE wine and beer! I can say no, but I end up feeling sorry for myself seeing everyone around me trying the different wines offered by the wineries that attend the festivals or whatever, when I can't. So I just don't go, and feel depressed or left out.
So yeah, my life was out of control before, I know that. But the fear of false positives, the clench in my stomach EVERY TIME I check in, not wanting today to be a testing day, the annoyance when I'm selected to test because of the time involved when my day is already full and the cost involved when my credit card already has a hefty balance for this month, and the constant thoughts of "I can't wait until this is over" pretty much controls my life right now.

Yes. Every. Single. Minute.