What Can Cause a False Positive on a Urine Drug Screen?
False positives are harmful in both the setting of a drug test and in general science or medical profession. Due to a false positive test result in the initial instance, a job applicant may lose out on a potential employment offer.
Bearing the cross for something you aren't even responsible for is unfavorable. Not all labs perform follow-up testing to determine whether the first result was accurate or not. Employees at organizations with no tolerance for drug use are subject to the same rules. Due to false positives, an employee can lose their jobs. It is one thing to take drugs or other substances and lose your job as a result, but completely different to refrain from doing so and have your job terminated because of your employer's suspicions.
Urine drug tests check for specific substances. This includes certain illegal narcotics as well as prescription drugs. Inaccurate drug testing can occur. When a drug test detects a chemical or medicine that you aren't actually taking, it is considered a “false positive” result.
Methamphetamine or amphetamine false positive tests are among the most frequent ones we encounter. Diet capsules frequently contain stimulants that help with weight loss, as a result, they may mistakenly cause a false positive under amphetamine or methamphetamine.
The sample is transported to the lab to be retested, where analysts utilize cutting-edge equipment to distinguish between a diet pill and methamphetamine or amphetamine. The collectors will submit a non-negative result from the rapid result cup to the lab for verification.
The sample is examined in the lab to look for a substance's metabolite. The lab is checking for the breakdown or by-product of the original chemical by testing for the metabolite. This enables the laboratory and medical review officer to prove almost without a doubt that the substance was consumed and digested in the donors' system. Additionally, the metabolite will remain in the body longer than the "parent-drug" and therefore be easier to detect.
A false positive test is also possible in the case of secondhand marijuana smoke, which is produced when a marijuana user exhales. You might have THC on your hair and clothes if you spend an extended period around someone who smokes marijuana frequently. You'll also breathe in whatever the smoker exhales. Toxins from drugs infiltrate your body fluids and bloodstream in this way. It also explains why, after spending some time with heavy marijuana users, you could feel high.
At a pharmacy or online, you can purchase home drug test kits. However, home test kit results could potentially cause a false positive drug test. When conducting at-home drug tests, there are a few factors that could result in inaccuracies. The test's reliability, the detection window for a positive result, what you ate before the test, how the test or sample was handled or stored, and whether you took any over-the-counter medications before the test are a few of these factors. Home drug tests are frequently kept in less-than-ideal storage conditions, which is why it could result in false positives. A urine test sample exposed to excessive light could risk producing a false-positive or false-negative result.
Before your drug test, make sure to let the lab technician and your employer know about any prescriptions, products, or supplements you are currently using. Knowing what the drug test is looking for is the best course of action. From there, you may determine whether the drugs, vitamins, or other products you're using will result in false positives on your drug test. For instance, let the appropriate people aware ahead of time if you plan to take a drug test for THC while using CBD oil to relieve pain and anxiety. In this manner, if you test positive, you won't have to deal with the repercussions.
Visiting a trustworthy testing facility, like Precision Mobile Testing, is your best option if you need to take a drug test. Because the tests are being carried out in a certified laboratory and under the supervision of trained professionals, they are more reliable and less likely to be impacted by factors like faulty test administration or poor storage conditions.
To speak with a representative at Precision Mobile Testing today regarding more questions about a split specimen, call the number below or to schedule your walk-in drug test online today in your local area! #precisionmobiletesting.
