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false positive drug test

Hi,
I have been going to my pain doctor for at least 5 years. My lortab is now up to 10/500 and I take urine tests every 2 months and never a problem up untill my last 2 tests, now he wants to know where I have been getting the oxycontin?
Told him nope I have none and have taken none. Any one know why my tests would show up this way? His explaination to me was maybe it was a build up of the lortab but he didn't seem to convincing. Thanks.
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Avatar universal
There are basically two types of tests. Quick wet tests of urine samples where the sample is dripped onto something like a pregnancy test plate. DIfferent spots turn colors for different drugs. These are cheap and in no way 100% accurate and only an estimate could be made as to how much you are taking. The other type is from urine too or blood or hair but usually urine. Sent out to a testing lab where it is run thru a GC Mass Specrtometer and they run it against know concentrations of known drugs. This gives near 100% accuracy as to WHAT, HOW MUCH and even HOW LONG you have been taking a drug. Many drugs break down into smaller molecules that they look for too and depending on the ratio of the drug to the breakdown product, they could infer length of time you have been using. Just more math involved. These tests take a week generally and you should be given a one to two page report and it will even state percentage accuracies. PM docs that do this are not necessarily compensated and when they have done them to me I tell them make sure my insurance will pay this cuase I wont. It usually means they suspect you are lying to them about how often you are taking a drug or that you are doctor shopping or that you are selling and not taking. One doc said he caught a 60 year old patient testing positive for Cocaine, so he said. That was Dr. Raso in Jupiter who I DONT RECOMMEND, BAD GUY! Read one story and followed up where it seems he spiked a pateints sample with coke so where did he get the coke. I believe the story to date. Good Luck.
D
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Avatar universal
Oh OK thanks!  Thats sure not the way its done where I go.
Helpful - 0
356518 tn?1322263642
I know because its on the urine cup itself....hydro oxy cocaine pcp and some others.
It will show lines for neg and pos when urine hits it. so yes I can see the results before they do.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey sandee1818,
How do you know this? Do they do the test right in front of you?
The only reason I figured out it was being done differently was because the people form the lab would say i'm so and so from what ever lab they were from and they were doing drug testing that day and then try to bill me more than the rate the Drs office told me I had to pay. The last 2 times it was one of the girls from the Drs office. and they seemed to have the results the last time I went in with in a few mins. But I never saw the test being done.
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356518 tn?1322263642
The test my doc uses shows seperatly oxy hydro cocaine pcp and some others. It is a cup and it shows two lines neg one pos
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the comments and support.
Guess the only thing I can do is wait till my next appointment and see if I test oxycontin and ask them to send me to the lab across the street the same day and test there. If I don't test oxycontin I have no idea what to do. I'm also going to ask what testing they do and try to get answers.  Thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have to disagree, it would depend on the type of quickie test #1. The two are very similar and some quick WET Tests only indicate the presence of part of the opitate molecule's active group, usually an NH2 amino group. And they certainly dont give the doctor the ability to conclude you are taking Oxycontin over oxycondone. BTW, Oxycontin is just time released Oxycodone so when the doc said "just a build up of Lortab" he likely meant the level of Oxycodone (bright color if wet test) was so high he mistook it for you taking Oxycontin that wuold give you higher levels of oxycodone and then they suspect you are taking it more than just to reduce pain, but to feel high.
Helpful - 0
356518 tn?1322263642
The quick test can tell the difference between the lortab abd oxycontin. My dr uses a test that will detect the oxy the lortab and others as well as illeagal.
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Avatar universal
Well the doc gave me a 30 days of lycria (50mg one time a day) to try with the lortab 10/500 4 x a day. So far I see no difference except I feel a tingling on more parts of my back if that makes any sense. He said if that didn't work he was going to do some testing to see if he can find out  where this pain is coming from. LOl! Gee i wish he had done that a long time ago. I don't see him again for another two months I'm just not sure that I want to wait that long to straighten this drug testing thing out. Thanks!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The last two tests that were done I believe were in the office. ( The quicky tests) The other tests used to be sent out and I never had a problem with the tests coming back wrong. He gave me no numbers nothing! I  just came in for my normal every 2 months to see him and the told me to take a urine test again that day ( I had taken one 2 months before)  so I did and he came in and said where are you getting the oxycotin?  I said no I take hydrocodone and he said no you have tested the last 2 times for oxicontin.  I told him that was wrong and asked why it would show up if I hadn't taken any. Thats when he said it's prob. just a build up of the lortab.
As you can tell I know very little about drug testing and the drugs.
I'm a 57 year old woman that just has cronic pain in my back and butt due to many problems with my back. I think I just felt hurt and confused because I felt like I was being acused of something I wasn't doing. I'm getting some good info on here and I do appreciate it. I know now I can go in and ask a few more questions to get some answers.
I have no idea why he would think I was an oxy user but yes I do feel like he was trying to trick me. I didn't appreciate it.    Thanks so much for your help!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What kind of test was done. The quicky test wont do, it would probably get the two mixed up since both opiates. Now if it was sent out for a test that takes days to a week, ask for the report. I would list all the common opiates and their amounts usually in PPM, parts per million. They run these against known samples so it would indeed be very accurate. This type test costs and is done using Gas or Liquid Chromatography, I used to be an Organic Chemist and would know if you told me the numbers he is giving you. Could it be he was just trying to trick you to see if you were an Oxy user? I assume this was a urine test. So let me know if it was done right there and if not, ask for a copy of the results since he could now discharge you on grounds you broke any contract they often have you sign. The lowest level they used to be able to detect things like Vicodin (hydrocodone) without spending too much for better tests was 100 PPM. Good luck.

D
Helpful - 0
228936 tn?1249094248
You are right up the road then from me in Palm Bay? What is this doc going to do?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks I'm in Titusville! Wish I knew how to get this staightened out cause I've had the feeling he wants me out because I keep telling him he's not helping and the lortab arn't working.
Helpful - 0
228936 tn?1249094248
I don't know why it shows but the 2 are very close. These docs don't care and will street you without meds and not care at all if it was true or not. all the best
Helpful - 0
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