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Specializes in Med/Surg; Case Management; LTC.

So I am working at a LTC facility and I am in a room helping one of the residents when I hear a nurse and a nursing assistant talking about things that will cause a false positive on a drug test. So unbeknownst to me who has been tested for over 6 years and has a strong use of Red Bull and Monster, these energy drinks including my beloved 5-hour energy drink can cause false positive for WAIT FOR IT...Opiates. UM WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!

WOW! so not only did I need to bite my tongue super hard but I had to keep from laughing. Okay I could see something like false positive for uppers but opiates. Things that make you go HMMMMMMM.

Roughly 66 days away now from the finish line.

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Specializes in Med/Surg & Psych.

Have you ever googled "what causes false positives"? It is quite amusing. If I followed everything I'd have to live in a bubble! LOL

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Specializes in Med/Surg; Case Management; LTC.
3 hours ago, Indiana RN said:

Have you ever googled "what causes false positives"? It is quite amusing. If I followed everything I'd have to live in a bubble! LOL

I know. Seriously funny especially since after 6 years of Soy Sauce, The occasional Kombucha and cookie dough with vanilla extract in it unbaked, and Dayquil once or twice during a horrible flu I have yet to be positive for alcohol or ETOH yet nevermind the vast amounts of Red Bull I drink. LOL

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Specializes in ICU.

It has been the most stressful part of the probation so far Is the testing and worrying about false positives. I am a month and a half in and have had 4 urines and 1 blood test. When you Google what can cause false positives it can make you extremely paranoid to eat, drink or inhale things.
I really appreciate this post and would like more info on what is really an issue to avoid and not just the scary stuff the internet provides.
Energy drinks, soy sauce, hair spray, B Vitamins, hand sanitizer etc...



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Specializes in Med/Surg & Psych.
3 hours ago, RNCaliK said:

It has been the most stressful part of the probation so far Is the testing and worrying about false positives. I am a month and a half in and have had 4 urines and 1 blood test. When you Google what can cause false positives it can make you extremely paranoid to eat, drink or inhale things.
I really appreciate this post and would like more info on what is really an issue to avoid and not just the scary stuff the internet provides.
Energy drinks, soy sauce, hair spray, B Vitamins, hand sanitizer etc...



I drink a bang energy drink everyday at work. I also use hand sanitizer dozens of times at work. I have left work, tested and haven't tested positive. Indiana I get tested for everything. I don't use soy sauce but eats lots of Chinese food. I don't use hairspray very often but I dye my hair monthly and use bodyspray almost daily. The beginning is always the worst! I've been doing this for 2 1/2 years and now I forget I'm even in this program most days....unless I'm picked to test! LOL

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Specializes in Med/Surg; Case Management; LTC.

I have drank Kombucha before I knew it had trace amou to of alcohol in it and freaked got a PETH test that same week and nada clean. You would have to drink a GALLON of Kombucha in three hours and be tested immediately to possibly pop for alcohol. I have eaten EATEN cookie dough with real extract in it again nothing. I dye my hair, use real mouthwash, and have eaten on occasion a everything bagel again NADA. I think they do this so people don't drink and then say oh no I used cough syrup or mouthwash. I have however steered very very clear of ALL cold remedies and have gone so far as to get life long scripts for Benedryl for allergies and cold medicine during a cold so I am covered. I am less than 2 months away now from the end of almost 7 YEARS!!! When I am done the first thing I am doing is eating a POPPY SEED BAGEL LOADED with smoked salmon and sushi with a lot of real soy sauce. I might even make a big bat h of cookie dough and just rat the whole damn bowl LOL.

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Specializes in ICU.

Oh my gosh your post made me laugh and feel relieved! Congratulations on having the finish line insight. It is so helpful to hear from people who have actually been through the testing and not just the internet scare tactics out there.

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Specializes in Med/Surg; Case Management; LTC.
6 hours ago, RNCaliK said:

It has been the most stressful part of the probation so far Is the testing and worrying about false positives. I am a month and a half in and have had 4 urines and 1 blood test. When you Google what can cause false positives it can make you extremely paranoid to eat, drink or inhale things.
I really appreciate this post and would like more info on what is really an issue to avoid and not just the scary stuff the internet provides.
Energy drinks, soy sauce, hair spray, B Vitamins, hand sanitizer etc...



Wait B vitamins LOL. WOW! I would have been screwed if that was true. LOL I think you need to use an obscene amount of this stuff to pop positive. I did take Dayquil once, once no script option 4 NOTHING. It was clean.

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Specializes in ICU.

LOL yes they say B vitamins can make a false positive. I try to equate it with looking up your symptoms on WebMD they will say you have cancer and will be dead in a week. So trying to research what will give you a false positive on a drug alcohol urine test will keep you up at night stressing about it
Im so thankful for both of you putting my mind more at ease-

just don’t drink alcohol or do drugs and be mindful but not paranoid about the other things that have alcohol in them and things will be OK.

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Specializes in Med/Surg; Case Management; LTC.
6 hours ago, RNCaliK said:

LOL yes they say B vitamins can make a false positive. I try to equate it with looking up your symptoms on WebMD they will say you have cancer and will be dead in a week. So trying to research what will give you a false positive on a drug alcohol urine test will keep you up at night stressing about it
Im so thankful for both of you putting my mind more at ease-

just don’t drink alcohol or do drugs and be mindful but not paranoid about the other things that have alcohol in them and things will be OK.

Yup basically and at parties and gatherings DO NOT drink anything you have not been with the entire time. Lord knows you do not need a mistake messing you up. I was a gin and tonic girl and when I am at parties some tonic water with lime is perfect but I never put it down to eat to pick up someone else's drink by accident LOL.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.
On 8/3/2020 at 9:28 AM, RNCaliK said:

It has been the most stressful part of the probation so far Is the testing and worrying about false positives. I am a month and a half in and have had 4 urines and 1 blood test. When you Google what can cause false positives it can make you extremely paranoid to eat, drink or inhale things.
I really appreciate this post and would like more info on what is really an issue to avoid and not just the scary stuff the internet provides.
Energy drinks, soy sauce, hair spray, B Vitamins, hand sanitizer etc...



I take a super B complex every single day I am working. I take beta-blockers and need the boost from a B vitamin to get through my days! LOL. Been doing it since January, when my probation started and have never tested positive. Now, I am a bit worried about continuing this. I do have it on my list of OTC meds for my CM but I am guessing it would not make a difference if I tested positive for something else. UGH!

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