Are there really that many false positive drug/etoh test?

[Skippy]

When I, finally, find a job I will be drug and alcohol tested by the BON by Labquest. I've read here that many nurses have false positives. Is that really the case? Please let me know there are many who don't have this experience. I've been through too much to deal with that!
Does the hand sanitizer at every hospital show positive results?
The food you eat and the toothpaste you use?
Seems like they would have some sort of threshold?
Very scary!

Thanks!
Skippy

[hppygr8ful]

Originally Posted by Skippy

When I, finally, find a job I will be drug and alcohol tested by the BON by Labquest. I've read here that many nurses have false positives. Is that really the case? Please let me know there are many who don't have this experience. I've been through too much to deal with that!
Does the hand sanitizer at every hospital show positive results?
The food you eat and the toothpaste you use?
Seems like they would have some sort of threshold?
Very scary!

Thanks!
Skippy

Here's the basic scoop on Etg testing. Etg is a metabolite produced by the liver when ETOH is consumed or otherwise finds it's way into the body. It's presence was once considered proof positive that alcohol had been consumed. The problem is that many things can cause it to appear in the blood. It has been found that things like Lysol, alcohol based hand sanitizer and even PAM cooking pray which has a large amount of alcohol in it can cause positive Etg. When this test is being used as part of your contract you do have to be very careful about what you consume and what chemicals you come in contact with. It's not impossible but it is hard. In the strictest sense of the word there are no false positives but there is unintentional exposure. There are lists of foods and things to avoid on the net which will help you do this - I had 3 positive Etg's in two years but all were ruled unintentional exposures. For one of them I had to take 14 days off work - but my employer was Diversion friendly and for them it was not a problem - I just took it against vacation time.

It's been a while since we posted the list of foods to avoid - I'll see if we can dig it up a repost.

Peace and namaste

Hppy

[Alk1227]

Yes!
I would also like a list since I've heard lots of horror stories and am also an RN getting newly urine screened.
THANKS!!

[hppygr8ful]

See new post under this topic Titled foods to avoid


Hppy