Over-the-counter medications, foods, vitamin supplements, and prescription medicines can cause false positive drug tests. Employees should inform their employer and testing facility of any medications taken to avoid inaccurate results.
With many employers using random drug tests in the workplace, employees sometimes wonder about the possibility of a false positive drug test. The thing is, there are a number of different over-the-counter medications, foods, vitamin supplements, and even prescription medicines that can cause a false positive. It is important that employees tell their employer and testing facility if they have taken any medications that could affect results.
Among over-the-counter medications, many of the night cold medications that people use to minimize cold and flu symptoms for the evening can cause false positives. This is especially true for liquid pain relievers, as many of them contain various members of the ephedrine family. Some weight loss products can also cause false positives, as can some nasal sprays and asthma medications.
Certain foods can sometimes result in a false positive drug test. Many people are familiar with the fact that poppy seeds can nullify results by posing as an opiate. These seeds are often used in salad dressings, as an ingredient in many casseroles, and as an added topping on sandwiches and sandwiches.
Vitamin supplements can also cause a false positive. Riboflavin, also known as B2, can give a false THC reading. In addition to being part of most B-complex vitamin supplements, riboflavin is found in hemp seed oil and also as a standalone supplement. Many herbs that contain moderate to high amounts of B vitamins can also register a false positive in a drug test.
Prescription drugs, including antibiotics such as Ampicillin and Amoxicillin, can also cause problems. Many prescription pain medications will show up in a drug test as they may contain ingredients related to some illegal drugs. Even some anti-anxiety medications can cause a positive result. Some diseases, such as diabetes, liver disease and kidney infections, can even register as opiates in drug tests.
When preparing for a drug test, people may want to provide a list of any recently taken medications, as well as vitamins and herbal supplements, to the testing facility and the company’s human resources department. If the person undergoing drug testing has an ongoing medical condition, this information should also be provided. This can make a huge difference in evaluating your final test results.
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