Unknown Delay in Pre-employment Drug Screen Results

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Hello Everyone,

I need some help figuring out what is going on with my pre-employment drug screen. I just got hired for a new job and went to occupational health to get medically cleared. I gave a urine sample for my drug screen to be sent to Medtox and they told me they should hear within a week the results. It is now approaching 3 weeks and OH still hasn't received the results (which is the only thing pending my ability to start the job). I am supposed to start the job one week from today! HR told me that I should continue to assume I start then as they wait for the results and could not tell me what is causing the delay. I also spoke to the directer of OH and he told me that all Medtox has told them is that they still do not have my results and cannot give any further information.

Has anyone experienced this before? I do not do any drugs so failing the test is not a possibility. I would also imagine if they had lost the sample that I would have already been called back in for another test. Any thoughts on what the problem is? Thank you!

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UPDATE: In case this happens to anyone else I wanted to provide an update!

Today, which is almost a month after taking that drug test, I finally got the call from occupational health telling me the results had been received. However I was then informed that an MRO would be in contact with me later that day to discuss the results. Obviously I freaked out knowing they only contact people to confirm a positive test...

Which indeed happened! I tested positive for pseudoephedrine because I take Claritin D for my allergies!!!! The doctor asked me what I might be taking to have gotten a positive result, and I told him. He told me that would contribute to the positive result and that he would notify my employer that I had a negative screening. 10 minutes later I got a call from HR telling me I was finally cleared and asking if I could start tomorrow.

What a headache!!! So relieved and excited :)

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Specializes in Women’s Health.

Glad everything was sorted out! Congrats on your new job!

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OMG!! I'm having the same issue with a delay of my drug test and I'm also currently taking Claritin D because I have terrible spring allergies. I considered that could possibly be a reason because it's not over the counter but that is absolutely crazy. They have not reached out to me and it's been a week.

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