nj ramp/ positive for alcohol bc of vape!

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I have not drank alcohol or eaten any alcohol byproducts. I tested positive for alcohol on 5/23 which is insane because I didn't do anything. The only thing is I picked up using a vape but actually threw it out a week later. I'm pretty sure it was the vape that made me test positive because nothing else has changed in my day to day. I checked the box and no ingredients mention anything related to ethanol. I got randomly selected: 5/29, 6/4, for urine and 6/9 for peth which were all negative—. I paid for a retest of the 5/23 specimen just in case it was a lab error bc I honestly didn't even consider the vape until I brought it up days later in group. 

Has this happened to anyone? Why are vapes not mentioned in AA, rehab centers, or even contracts related to monitoring. It definitely isn't common knowledge that vapes can have a byproduct of alcohol. I vaped all Summer but didn't have an issue but I think it's this particular brand that created an issue.  
 

my job is basically saying I have til 5/13 to get things figured out because my license was deactivated as per ramp due to the positive test and is unwilling to wait for the retest results. I am so frustrated. 
 

do you think I have a legal case to go after the vape company if I become terminated/ "voluntarily resign?”

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I personally haven't heard of the happening, but a quick AI search shows it's  a real possibility. See following:

  "While alcohol, specifically ethanol, is sometimes listed as an ingredient in vape products, it is also frequently found as an unlisted ingredient in e-liquids. Studies have shown that many commercially available vape juices contain ethanol, and some contain more than 10%. A study published by VCU News found that out of 56 samples, all but three contained ethanol, and 11 contained more than 10%. "

Unfortunately, I don't think you'd have a strong legal case,  just as you wouldn't have a strong legal case for a potentially positive urine from fermented food such as saurkraut, vinegar, or overly ripened bananas where potential alcohol content may not be listed.

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Id focus on keeping your license and your job..sorry this happened to you 

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
Serenityseeker said:

I personally haven't heard of the happening, but a quick AI search shows it's  a real possibility. See following:

  "While alcohol, specifically ethanol, is sometimes listed as an ingredient in vape products, it is also frequently found as an unlisted ingredient in e-liquids. Studies have shown that many commercially available vape juices contain ethanol, and some contain more than 10%. A study published by VCU News found that out of 56 samples, all but three contained ethanol, and 11 contained more than 10%. "

Unfortunately, I don't think you'd have a strong legal case,  just as you wouldn't have a strong legal case for a potentially positive urine from fermented food such as saurkraut, vinegar, or overly ripened bananas where potential alcohol content may not be listed.

Propylene glycol contains alcohol substrates.  That's why it has the -OL ending.

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subee said:

Propylene glycol contains alcohol substrates.  That's why it has the -OL ending.

The test is supposedly specific for ethanol.

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Update: it was lab error because the second test showed 100% negative. 
I lost my job during this time because I had to deactivate my license... 

I feel vindicated but bitter as hell

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G. nurse said:

Update: it was lab error because the second test showed 100% negative. 
I lost my job during this time because I had to deactivate my license... 

I feel vindicated but bitter as hell

Glad it was a negative test but that's horrible that you lost your job

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Also glad that the retesting came up completely negative.  Maybe you should consider a lawsuit against RAMP for deactivating your license based on.lab error that was initially clearly not supported by follow up PETH testing which resulted in loss of employment. 

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update::

never an apology or a drop of empathy from my caseworker. She just said, "unfortunately, you are in a monitoring program, and we have to follow protocol.” I'm working on trying to obtain some sort of documentation from the toxicologist and it's like jumping through hoops. 

I was able to get in touch with HR and they suggested I reapply— spoke to my nurse manager and she fought for me. She said I'm a great nurse, and that I'm worthy of being fought for and that she will work with HR to get my position back. 
 

We face so many obstacles. During my leave, I was unpaid for 2 weeks, and had paid for a peth $178, and the retest fee 85$. But I'm going to take the win and walk away that try to pursue anything. Hopefully the universe will show me some love. 

as horrible as this experience was, I'm grateful to my community because my loved ones believed me 100% despite my positive test and my nurse manager believes in me too. enough for her to push for HR to rescind the termination letter that was sent to my house that hasn't even arrived yet. 
 

only 1,400 days of torture left. 

 

 

 

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G. nurse said:

update::

never an apology or a drop of empathy from my caseworker. She just said, "unfortunately, you are in a monitoring program, and we have to follow protocol.” I'm working on trying to obtain some sort of documentation from the toxicologist and it's like jumping through hoops. 

I was able to get in touch with HR and they suggested I reapply— spoke to my nurse manager and she fought for me. She said I'm a great nurse, and that I'm worthy of being fought for and that she will work with HR to get my position back. 
 

We face so many obstacles. During my leave, I was unpaid for 2 weeks, and had paid for a peth $178, and the retest fee 85$. But I'm going to take the win and walk away that try to pursue anything. Hopefully the universe will show me some love. 

as horrible as this experience was, I'm grateful to my community because my loved ones believed me 100% despite my positive test and my nurse manager believes in me too. enough for her to push for HR to rescind the termination letter that was sent to my house that hasn't even arrived yet. 
 

only 1,400 days of torture left. 

 

 

 

As bad as this is, they let you test again.  I've heard of situations where a retest was not allowed.  You didn't get more time, correct? Id rather not lose my job but my big fear is more time.  Your case manager doesn't care about you. 

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They retested the same split specimen. I continued to test when I got randomly selected. I believe my samples were mixed up with someone else because they said my first level had high levels of alcohol and I went crazy thinking it was the vape. The second test on the same specimen / split specimen was conclusively negative.

No additional time, thank god. as previously mentioned, I was innocent. It wasn't even a false positive... it sounds like it was the wrong sample 

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G. nurse said:

They retested the same split specimen. I continued to test when I got randomly selected. I believe my samples were mixed up with someone else because they said my first level had high levels of alcohol and I went crazy thinking it was the vape. The second test on the same specimen / split specimen was conclusively negative.

No additional time, thank god. as previously mentioned, I was innocent. It wasn't even a false positive... it sounds like it was the wrong sample 

Oh wow. I always imagined they would test the 2nd sample automatically if it was positive.  Someone else got lucky.  Do you test through recovery trek? 

It took two weeks to retest the sample? That's crazy. One would think that it would take less. That should have been expedited . The lab should but won't pay for the retest since they made the mistake.  

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