False Positives on Drug Tests, page 140

False Positives Forum


Subj: Positive for Methamphetamine
Date: 6/28/2011
Hello again, I posted yesterday about testing positive for Methamphetamine; again, I have never used this substance before. Upon further reflection, I recall that I had a urinary tract infection when I tested. I took generic cranberry tablets, which I doubt had a part in the results, but I am thinking the infection may have. What do you think? Thank you,


AskDocWeb: A urinary tract infection may result in a false positive for glutaraldehyde but not for methamphetamine. Glutaraldehyde is not normally found in urine but when it is found it is generally an indicator of adulteration, which would make it appear that someone is trying to cheat the test. That would be another kind of false positive, one that would only complicate the issue.

Subj: Tested positive for benzoids
Date: 6/28/2011
I tested positive for benzoids which I do not take. I believe, firmly, it may have been due to something I ate. Recently I had Chicken that was marinated with Kekoman sauce. I also ate Vita Herring. I am currently taking Percocette for pain, which came back at a lower concentration then the benzo. Other medications I take are for high blood pressure, hormone medication, calcium and vitamin. I do not see a list of foods that can give a false positive for this drug. I even had them take a second urine which still showed positive. I am at a loss what could have given this to me. Any ideas on food? I am desperate.


AskDocWeb: Typical foods that the average American eats do not show up on drug tests. If something is causing a false positive then repeating the test will only produce the same result. You could check the meds you are taking against this list. The list keeps growing, which includes medication, supplements, and household products that have shown up on drug tests as false positives.

Subj: Positive for meth
Date: 6/29/2011
My husband takes xanax, abilify loratadine, triazolam, zoloft and trazadone. He is currently in jail for probation violation cuz they told him he came out positive for meth is that a posibility it could b his meds and b a false reading they did 4 tests in 2 days he is disabled and sees a psychiatrist for gettn his meds?


AskDocWeb: It is “possible” that his drug test may be a false positive. The Lewisburg Prison found that some urine drug tests misidentified loratadine as meth. If it is a false positive then a GC/MS confirmation test would prove it. The generic drug loratadine is also sold under the brand names Dimetapp, Claritin, Alavert, Claritin Reditab, Claritin Hives Relief, Clear-Atadine, Clear-Atadine Children’s, Loratadine Reditab, Ohm Allergy Relief, Tavist ND, Wal-itin, and Dimetapp ND.

Subj: Failed for marijuana
Date: 6/29/2011
Hello, My husband just took a drug test and failed for marijuana, which is simply not possible. He is taking ribavirin and Pegasys® (peginterferon alfa-2a). Could this have produced a false positive? Thanks for any help.


AskDocWeb: Those meds are not on the list but there are over 60 other possible causes of a false positive for marijuana (THC). If you are sure that the result was a false positive then getting a confirmation test would pass him.

Subj: Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Date: 6/29/2011
Back on page 99 you said that lamotrigine (Lamictal) cannot cause a false positive for PCP, but it surely can. See this abstract: (website) Not picking at you, just for your info.


AskDocWeb: Thanks Mari, we are always open to new data.

Subj: Positive for Dilaudid
Date: 6/29/2011
PLEASE I have been on Morphine for over 3 Years for Back Pain I also can Valium which I take very rarely if at all. I have Never Taken anything unless Prescribed by a Doctor. I have Never had a Problem before since I have been on Morphine I have been tested more then a few Times a year for other drugs which there Never was any EXCEPT this Last Time. My Urine test came Back Positive for a drug called Dilaudid which I did NOT take. The Pain I have is severe and I would never take anything else. This urine test is WRONG. I took Nothing but what my Doctor Prescribes 30mil tablet 4 times a Day. Never More and Never Less. Is there a way to Prove there Urine test is WRONG? It is.

I had signed a contract so if one comes up Positive I don’t get any more medication. This is Really Life Threatening, because the Pain itself can kill me but my daughter would lose it if anything ever happened to me. I don’t mean to sound so melodramatic but it’s been Two(2) weeks Now and I only have enough for almost Two more. Please I did Not take what there test is showing. I have to find a way to Disprove that test. Can I? If so How? Please, I really Need your Help. Thank You very much for Reading this. By the way I am 67 years old. None of this makes any sense. Please get back to me with something I can do to Prove I am telling the Truth.


AskDocWeb: If the drug test results specifically state that the positive was for Dilaudid or Hydomorphone then that means they were testing just for that drug. It is unlikely that they would do that unless someone suspected drug abuse. However, there is an additional test that may be conducted on the original sample to prove or disprove the results of the urine test. If you can get them to do a GC/MS confirmation test it will show what was really in your system.

Subj: Diluted UA’s
Date: 6/230/2011
why would i be having so many “DILUTED” ua’s when i don’t even drink alot of water!!?? I take a multi-vitamin and watch my fluid intake… I need the answer or possibility of why ASAP… Thanks so much!


AskDocWeb: An abnormally low level of creatinine could account for a diluted sample. Typically this results from drinking too much water but large amounts other liquids such as juices, sodas, coffee, etc. can also dilute a urine sample. A low creatinine level may also indicate a problem with dehydration or kidney problem.

Subj: Positive THC
Date: 6/230/2011
i was drug test and it came back positive thc and i don’t smoke are eat are any thing.


Subj: How do we prove that it was a false positive?
Date: 6/230/2011
My fiance took some sudafed cold and sinus tabs he took 8 pills in less than 7 hrs. He didnt think that they were providing relief he tested positive for meth, and he doesnt do meth. He even quit smoking weed. But I was wondering what the concentration has to be for it to show up as meth in a drug screen and how do we prove that it was a false positive?


AskDocWeb: The important thing is to show that the test result was a false positive. For that you need to get a GC/MS confirmation test. If the confirmation test doesn’t find any meth in the original sample then that is proof that it was a false positive.

Subj: Presumed cocaine
Date: 7/1/2011
My son was tested and his urine showed up a presum cocain. What does that mean? He was in a car acccident and the trooper insisted he was drunk after running test on him he was negative for everything but resum cocain. He was taking tramadol hcl 50mg for shoulder pain. Dmazeram 5mg for anixety and prevacid for stomach. If you have a answer for this it would be much help. Thank you sincerely,


AskDocWeb: It is our understanding that if a urine test shows positive for cocaine that is an indication of presumed guilt, which means that there is justification to assume guilt but it has not been verified by a confirmation test.

Subj: Tested positive for alcohol
Date: 7/1/2011
I have a friend in a California prison who recently tested positive for alcohol (ethanol)in his urine (he swears he does not drink because of medical conditions, which include high blood pressure and diabetes). My question is, could a false positive be found from the use of any of the following medications: Metformin (oral) Candesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide (Atacand) Losartan (oral) Doxazosin (oral) Atenolol (oral) Rosuvastatin (Crestor – oral) Gabapentin (Neurontin – oral) Morphine (oral) Omeprazole Prilosec – oral) Insulin (injection) What about alcohol prep pads used daily for insulin injection (and blood tests when needed)?


AskDocWeb: The drugs you listed have not been noted to cause a false positive for alcohol. However, the diabetes might be a cause. If a diabetic does not get enough insulin, the cells aren’t able to use the blood glucose and the system will start breaking down body fat for energy. When these fats are broken down for energy, it produces ketones, which can cross-react in tests for alcohol. Therefore a diabetic who is making ketones may produce a positive result for alcohol, even though they haven’t consumed any alcohol. This may also indicate a need for medical attention to get the diabetes under control.

Subj: Hair drug test
Date: 7/1/2011
I recently had a hair drug test on me and my child…and tested positive for cocaine, she was on amoxicillin and oragel for her mouth. i had been on antibiotics, could that have shown a positive?


AskDocWeb: Some antibiotics may show up on the initial hair test as a false positive but these are almost always eliminated in the confirmation test. Did they do a confirmation test?

Subj: Tested positive for THC
Date: 7/1/2011
I go to a pain center for chronic pain from different types of arthritis, a rare form of an Immune Deficiency, among other illnesses. I am 52 years of age. On May 10, I had to give a urine sample which tested positive for thc. I do not nor have I ever used marijuana. I would like to know if any of the following medications would show a false positive. Protonix, Promethezine, Salagen, Librax, Vitamin B12 Injections, Vit. D, Tylenol Arthritis 650 mg., Zanaflex, Plaquanel. Your assistance in much needed as I have been dismissed from the pain center which I know it has to be due to a prescribed medication.


AskDocWeb: Severals sources say that Promethazine may show up as THC on a drug test and one source says that Protonix can do that.

Subj: Theophylline or 1,3 dimethylpentylamine
Date: 7/1/2011
Can Theophylline or 1,3 dimethylpentylamine cause a false positive on a probation drug test?


AskDocWeb: Yes, Theophylline is on the list for sometimes showing up as false positive for amphetamines, heroin, or opiates.

Subj: Test said I was positive
Date: 7/1/2011
I havent taken any medications at all and I recently had a drug test done and it was said I either had coc positive or the methanphetimine positive. I’m just really confused why it would come positive. would semen in the urine have something to do with this? its the only thing I could think of that would affect the test.


AskDocWeb: Sorry Benny, semen in the urine would have no effect on the results of a drug test. However these are over 600 other possible causes.

Subj: False positive caused by allergy medication?
Date: 7/4/2011
I have to take a pee test every week, each time I pop up for benzodiazepines, I am not taking anything but benydral for my allergies everyday and b-vitimans everyday. Will this show up as benzos?


AskDocWeb: The multi-B vitamins have not been reported to cause any problems on drug tests. Benydral is not on our list but if your meant Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) then yes that may show up as benzodiazepine. You can eliminate that kind of false positive with a GC/MS confirmation test, that is, if they will let you do that.

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