Simply ask if you can take another test. Many will have no problems accommodating your request. It helps to present evidence as to why you tested positive the first time. As already mentioned, a letter from a doctor or pharmacist regarding a prescription medication will help.
To challenge a positive drug test result, you can request a retest or a confirmatory test, such as GC-MS. Provide documentation of any prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, or supplements you are taking, and consider consulting with a lawyer if necessary.
In fact, it is estimated that over 15% of all hair drug test interpretations will yield inaccurate results - a worrying figure that could have huge implications for your client. It might sound counterintuitive, but positive doesn't always mean positive, and this is where complications emerge.
Bleaching, dyeing, perming, and straightening can all impact a hair drug test result. This is because the chemicals used in these types of treatments can damage the hair shaft and alter the concentration of the drug.
The most common false positive drug test is for amphetamines, which can be triggered by over-the-counter decongestants, the nasal inhaler Benzedrex, the antidepressant Wellbutrin, and the weight-loss supplement Acutrim (WebMD).
Bleaching hair peroxide decreases the detectability of cocaine in user hair. Melanin–cocaine bonds are broken and cocaine is degraded into reaction products. Unbound cocaine and reaction products are washed out removing evidence of cocaine use.
Follow-up GC-MS tests showed that eight of the 10 samples (80%) were true positive for cannabinoids. Of the two samples that were positive due to NSAID use, one was from acute ibuprofen use (1,200 mg in one day), and the other was from chronic naproxen use (1,000 mg daily for no longer than 30 days).
Hair drug testing on dyed or bleached hair may still be worthwhile. Any chemical treatment such as hair dye, bleach, chemical straightening and permanent waves can damage the hair. This damage may lead to some of the drugs that may be present, being leached out from the hair.
If you can show that a positive test was caused by an error with the test itself, the result may be thrown out. The same may be true if you can show that it was caused by prescription medication or some other substance that you have the legal right to use.
Current case law indicates that in the context of drug testing, an employer or independent testing firm may be liable for negligence when tests are improperly administered, when test results are inaccurately maintained, and when an employee who has tested positive for drugs injures a third person.
Drug screening results can negatively affect many circumstances; therefore, accuracy is of the utmost importance. Some data suggests 5% to 10% of all drug tests may result in false positives and 10% to 15% may yield false negatives.
What should you say to your employer if you fail a drug test? Be honest, express your willingness to comply with company policies, and discuss any steps you are taking to address the issue, such as seeking treatment.
Ask about retesting options.
In most cases, you are entitled to request a retest. However, most drug testing protocols require the lab to retest the same sample. While this is helpful in situations where there was contamination, the better option is to provide an entirely new sample, if that is allowed.
According to the Accusign TCA kit, more than 150,000 ng/mL of diphenhydramine can produce a false positive result (0.3% cross-reactivity), and the urine TCA kit's cutoff value for nortriptyline is 1000 ng/mL [8].
An evidentiary false positive that is the result of exogenous exposure to drug(s) in the environment. The drug positive result is not due to the ingestion or use of drug by any route of administration. Drug(s) in sweat or sebum from a source other than the user contacting hair to cause a drug positive result.
If you think you've had a false positive on a urine drug test, consider whether any medications you take could be responsible. Then, talk to your healthcare provider. They may be able to invalidate the results by running a second test. Confirmation tests check specifically for the substance or medication in question.
“CBD will not cause a false positive,” says Steven Dudley, PharmD, a clinical toxicologist and director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center. “When people who use CBD products test positive for a cannabis or marijuana drug test, it's linked to one thing: contamination with THC.”
The window of detection also varies based on the amount of hair tested. Although longer samples of hair can be tested for drug exposure over a longer period of time, a standard sample of hair from the scalp is 1.5 inches and provides information about approximately 90 days of past drug exposure.
Hair testing can only detect drugs that have been consumed; it cannot detect drugs that have been injected or breathed. This is a crucial point to keep in mind.
However, keep in mind that if you're applying for a job that requires hair testing, refusing to take the test could disqualify you from getting the job. And if you're concerned about potential discrimination, you can always decline to take the hair test.
The Jerry G Method involves using bleach and hair dye to remove any drug metabolites from the hair follicles. These harsh ingredients can forcefully open your hair follicles to clear any traces of marijuana and other drugs.
The collector obtains a 100-milligram sample of hair (90 to 120 strands) cut at the scalp. The collector secures the hair sample in foil and completes chain of custody documentation in preparation for shipment to the testing laboratory.