Pre employment drug screen positive for pcp!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Please help! I had a pre-employment drug screen today. It was + for PCP!! i didn't even know what that is until I got home and looked into this. Anyhow, I have had a terrible upper respiratory infection and have been taking a lot of over the counter cold medicines, i used a vicks vapor inhaler nasal decongestant before going in, and I am on antibiotics. Everything else was negative, opiates, thc, cocaine, amphetamines, benzos, barbits, etc.

I cannot freaking believe this! I am soooooo excited to start this job...So much so I have told everyone it is my last job.

Has anyone ever had this happen to them??? I mean, PCP?? Really??? Who even does that?

So what happens after you fail a drug screen? they sent it on to the lab, and also had me fax information to my doctor to have him fax to the "medical review" doctor.

Becca

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Specializes in Occupational Health Nurse/ case manager.

The MRO, (Medical Review Officer) will confirm your drug screen with the split specimen that was taken. The MRO will then contact you to discuss your individual situation. Be sure to list all meds you are taking, especially over the counter supplements, vitamins, enzymes, etc.

Hope this helps

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They did like an instant drug screen there....kind of like a pregnancy test attached to the bottle you pee in.

There was no split specimen. She just put the urine bottle into a plastic bag and sealed it. It was sent to the lab for a more sensitive test.

Im guessing that if the urine sent to the lab is + as well, thats when it moves on to the medical review person.

This totally stinks. I have never had anything like this happen to me before!

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

You mentioned that you were taking a lot of OTC cold medications. Dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine are known to cause false positive tests for PCP. Many OTC cold and allergy formulas contain one or both of these drugs.

Good luck on getting this sorted out.

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Yes nyquil cold and flu. I looked into that and it has the dextromethorphan in it. So, the one they sent to the lab will probably be + as well?? The employee health nurse told me not to worry, but I cannot help but worry!

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

My guess is that they will seek confirmation of the results by a more precise and specific test that will show that what you had on board wasn't PCP.

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Yes, I am thankful that is was pcp and not something more common like pot or cocaine.....if you can be thankful about an "inconclusive" drug test. She said that this happens a lot, they send it to the lab, and that I should not worry.

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Have you thought you were Superman lately? Tied any solid iron pipes into pretty bows?

If you're going to have a false + drug screen, you might as well test positive for PCP, because it's probably the LEAST likely drug to show up accurately in a nurse's tox screen.

Sorry this has happened to you, I'm guessing it will all work out though. Hopefully you will laugh at this in a few days.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

That is very scary! I hope it gets solved correctly.

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Good luck! I hope that they get accurate results for you soon so you can laugh at this as you prepare to start your new job!

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I used to work in a research lab where we did receptor binding studies and used PCP in a lot of our studies. The stuff attaches to EVERYTHING. Its really nonspecific and has "receptors" everywhere. My boss used to joke that it would attach to shoe leather if you threw them in a test tube together.

Imagine how it affects your brain!

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Maybe a hair sample would be more accurate?

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