UA/drug test failed

[neuron]

Hi,

I recently took a ua/drug test at work, and it came out positive for THC (MJ). The test was taken because a pt. bit me and after an incident occurs, we are required to take a ua/drug test. When they asked me, I thought nothing of it, I had nothing to hide, so I took it. I get a call the next day, saying I have been suspended. I thought, fine, there must be a mistake because I have never inhaled/smoked or even taken any illegal substance. So I was calm.

I was called in to go to the DON's office, and she said I had tested positive for MJ. I said that there are patients on medications with THC and that is the only exposure I have had. I asked if it is possible that the lady that bit me was on any medication with THC and she really did not know. I asked for another ua and she did it. The results are pending.

She also said that I would be terminated due to the positive results (I am sure of the first test). She said that is the policy. That is fine, I understand a policy but I know I have never inhaled this substance.

I asked her for a copy of the results of the first test and she didn't know if she could get a copy or not. I don't want to sign anything/separation papers unless I have the results of the test. I have gone (the same day) to get an independent ua done.

I am devestated because I feel I am being accused of something I didn't do. I don't hang out with anyone who uses drugs, so needless to say when she said this to me, I was in disbelief. I have never failed or tested positive for a drug test.

p.s. The tests were from My First Lab (12 panel).

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Maybe OP went to a Grateful Dead concert and was exposed to other concertgoers smoke.

Um...how would poppy seeds cause a false positive for marijuana?

Opioids, okay, maybe. But THC? How?

Drug Tests Often Trigger False Positives

I do drug testing. Marijuana has nothing to do with poppy seeds.

I always ask three questions. Have you taken any medications in the last two weeks? Have you eaten anything with poppy seeds (poppy seed muffins, poppy seed salad dressing)? Have you been around anyone using medical marijuana?

The term "opioid" refers to all drugs, natural or synthetic, with morphine-like properties. Both morphine and codeine are naturally occurring alkaloids derived from the seed pod of the opium poppy. Semi-synthetic opiates include heroin, a diacetyl derivative of morphine; hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and oxycodone derived by a simple modification of the morphine molecule. Synthetic opiates such as methadone and meperidine, mimic opiate effects but are not prepared from the poppy. The drugs may be administered by snorting, subcutaneous or intravenous injection, or smoking. Opioid compounds have analgesic and antitussive properties. ......The interpretation of results for urines positive for opiates merit special consideration. Since codeine is metabolized to morphine, both substances may appear in the urine following codeine ingestion. However, the codeine concentration is generally greater than that of morphine. Street heroin also contains acetylcodeine, which metabolizes to codeine, therefore, both codeine and morphine may be present in the urine of some heroin users, although morphine generally predominates. In cases of low morphine and codeine concentrations in urine, it is not possible to determine whether codeine, morphine, or heroin were ingested. The presence of morphine alone would generally indicate either clinical morphine use or illicit morphine or heroin use. A specific metabolite of heroin, 6-monoacetylmorphine, is also at times detected and would definitely confirm illicit drug (heroin) use. Poppy seeds, which have not been effectively washed, contain trace amounts of codeine and morphine. When consumed in sufficient amounts, poppy seeds may produce urines which test positive for opiates......

The question about medical marijuana puts the kids who do smoke at ease because they think "Cool, I smoke weed but I can just say my Uncle Bert smokes medical pot and he came for a visit and I'm cool!".

However, the results of actually smoking pot are so much higher than the mere trace that MIGHT be in the blood that it would be obvious that you were smoking pot.

Passive Inhalation: In general, routine passive exposure to marijuana smoke will not result in a positive result for cannabinoids in excess of a 50 ng/mL screening cutoff and the THC-COOH (by LC/MS/MS or GC/MS) is in excess of 15 ng/mL.

If the OP truly hasn't been using, the OP needs to insist on the test results themselves and ask for a second test. No one can keep your own medical records away from you.

[NurseQT]

Wasn't a CG-MS confirmatory test done? A rapid test will only show negative or positive for said drugs and if there's a positive then CG-MS should be run to 1. Confirm the positive screen 2. To determine how much is actually in the body at the time of the test. Also, if your test truly is positive for THC, which is illegal in almost all states then wouldn't your employer need to turn that over to the police?

[nowim clean]

They do not have to turn over to police but the BON yes will be notified get a hair test done NOW prove to the BON youre clean or youll have a long road to travel

[neuron]

Got the independent drug results, they are negative. Turns out employer didn't send the first to the lab. Keep you updated.

[Loo17]

Got the independent drug results, they are negative. Turns out employer didn't send the first to the lab. Keep you updated.

What do you mean they didnt send the first to the lab? How did they test them?

[Red Kryptonite]

Curiouser and curiouser.....

[gassy2be]

What do you mean they didnt send the first to the lab? How did they test them?

I'm sure it was just a rapid test. Those things aren't reliable; I can't believe any employer would rely on them for true results.

[Red Kryptonite]

I'm sure it was just a rapid test. Those things aren't reliable; I can't believe any employer would rely on them for true results.

Is that even legal?

P.S. OP I am starting to wonder if someone has it in for you....watch your back. Possibly consider speaking with an employment attorney.

[neuron]

Red Kryptonite,

If someone has it in for me, there is nothing I can do. She was beating around the bush when I asked her for the drug test results (the chain of custody forms), which is the professional forms to confirm the actions of the the drug testing method. The tests where the standard urine cup, 12 panel. She didn't send the first one to the lab, she just read it when she got it, I took it at 12am, the nurses didn't know how to read it, so they left it for the DON to read (she got it 9-10 hours later).

So the two tests that she took (after the first positive) she said the lab couldn't read. So I took another today (pending those results). I gave her my negative results and she said she'll compare everything once the new test results are in.

She was just going to read the cup and then make a decision. That is what concerns me. Why wouldn't an R.N. send those to a lab and confirm the numbers?

[neuron]

I also want to say my stomach just turns when I think about this situation.

[Gamecock73]

I was drug tested once when I showed up to our designated site, post-bite. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I was asked to pee in the cup. He bit ME, not the other way around.

I was very lucky. In spite of all the sedating meds we gave this pt, my test was negative. Considering I've stayed away from attending concerts of my favorite band for fear of picking up unsavory second-hand smoke, my drug tests BETTER come back clean! :) Good luck to you, OP!

[Mn nurse 22]

All of the rapid drug screen have specific criteria to read the results after 5 minutes but within a certain amount of time the results are no longer valid, AND can often produce false positive results. If you can find the directions for the specific test you may be able to find some info that could help you.