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Discussion

False positive

First, I'm anon here because I am freaked out. I do have another account here that I have been using for years. I am not in recovery, but figured the knowledge base here is likely the best place to get an accurate answer. 
 

I have a prescription for stimulants because I have ADD. I take them as prescribed only. I do not take substances that are illegal, recreational, or not prescribed for me. I have not taken any opiates in years. The last time I did, it was only a few tabs when I had a very serious knee injury and could barely walk. I disposed of the tabs I didn't use via the local amnesty box. 
 

In my state, annual drug screens are required for people taking stimulants. I had mine done and got a call the next day from the psychiatrist who prescribes my medication and orders the drug screen. She told me it was positive for my medication as expected, but also for Suboxone. I've never taken Suboxone, never have had an opioid addiction or any other addiction. Psychiatrist asked for my permission to run a second test. I said yes, although I was wondering why. If it got contaminated somehow, wouldn't the results be the same? 
 

I told her we could do whatever needed to be done to clear this up. I'll give a hair sample or test more frequently. I have nothing to hide. Still, I am worried. If she stops prescribing my medication, it will suck. My ADD is significant, but I can deal with that. I'm more worried about my license and the grad program I'm in. If the retest is positive, would the psychiatrist be obligated to report me to the board of nursing? Does HIPAA protect me at all? What if the retest is positive, presumably due to contamination, but the hair test is negative? If the positive was already reported, would a negative hair test get something like that wiped from the public record of my license? 
 

Also, is contamination the only explanation? I watched the nurse label my sample. So my urine definitely had my name on it when it went to the lab. I feel like contamination is unlikely, and so is mixing up results when the cup is labeled properly. So, what kinds of things could result in a false positive? 
 

I'm baffled and worried, trying hard not to lose my ***. I wonder if there is something I can do to protect myself. Should I go see my PCP and ask for another test? Would that be weird? I feel like I don't even know how to act right now even though I did nothing wrong. My license is everything to me and I know people get railroaded. How do I avoid being some sort of cautionary tale? 

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    • Featured Replies

    Hi there,

     Sorry you are going through this stress! Have you eaten any poppy seeds lately? Taken quinolone Abx? Seroquel or Benadryl? All can cause false positives for opiates. If not, then it is hard to say; possibly contamination or maybe using the wrong test? Oftentimes they will do a "split" test where they put your urine into 2, test tubes to have an extra in case one test comes back positive. Your psychiatrist may have been getting your permission to run that other test or perhaps she wants you to do another. I would either re-test or wait and see what the result is. I highly doubt she is going to report you to the board at this time as she will need to confirm with another positive test. I would wait to reach out to your PCP until you get the results. Hang in there. 

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    You should be HIPPA protected.  She shouldn't br legally allowed to report you. Maybe lab error? Worst case scenario is probably you need to find a new psychiatry to prescribe stimulants. 

    Another test from your PCP would not cover the same time period as your initial test and a hair test is for chronic use Hopefully the retest is negative.  Your license should be fine either way. 

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    • Author
    LMRN2003 said:

    Hi there,

     Sorry you are going through this stress! Have you eaten any poppy seeds lately? Taken quinolone Abx? Seroquel or Benadryl? All can cause false positives for opiates. If not, then it is hard to say; possibly contamination or maybe using the wrong test? Oftentimes they will do a "split" test where they put your urine into 2, test tubes to have an extra in case one test comes back positive. Your psychiatrist may have been getting your permission to run that other test or perhaps she wants you to do another. I would either re-test or wait and see what the result is. I highly doubt she is going to report you to the board at this time as she will need to confirm with another positive test. I would wait to reach out to your PCP until you get the results. Hang in there. 

    Thanks for your answer. I haven't had any poppy seeds, ABX, seroquel, or Benadryl. I take vitamins and some supplements, but actually hadn't even taken my supplements in a while because I was in for a procedure when I submitted my sample for screening. My supplements are ones I have been taking for years though and never a problem before: fish oil, glucosamine and chondroitin, vit D. Otherwise, I take baby aspirin, Claritin, and pantoprazole. As far as I know, none of those could cause problems because I have been taking them for years and never had an issue on a drug screen. 

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    • Author
    Healer555 said:

    You should be HIPPA protected.  She shouldn't br legally allowed to report you. Maybe lab error? Worst case scenario is probably you need to find a new psychiatry to prescribe stimulants. 

    Another test from your PCP would not cover the same time period as your initial test and a hair test is for chronic use Hopefully the retest is negative.  Your license should be fine either way. 

    Doesn't stuff get into the hair, even if it's not used chronically? 
     

    I figured on the time frame for a test with PCP. If I had known sooner, I could have done it same day, but even then it would be off timing wise. 
     

    I really hope what you said about HIPAA is correct. I know there are certain things that we give up when we get a license and I always thought the right to 100% privacy on stuff like this was one of them. 
     

    The second test hasn't resulted yet, and I am worried that means bad news. Ugh. 

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    RNanon444 said:

    Doesn't stuff get into the hair, even if it's not used chronically? 
     

    I figured on the time frame for a test with PCP. If I had known sooner, I could have done it same day, but even then it would be off timing wise. 
     

    I really hope what you said about HIPAA is correct. I know there are certain things that we give up when we get a license and I always thought the right to 100% privacy on stuff like this was one of them. 
     

    The second test hasn't resulted yet, and I am worried that means bad news. Ugh. 

    Technically it could be in a hair test from 1x but it's really meant for chronic use buy maybe? I hope that no more stimulants is the worst case scenario for you. I just tell people I'm independently employed now and will continue to do so. 

    Try to enjoy your weekend.  I think the retest is gas chromatography which should take longer. 

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