![]() ![]() With the two-tiered testing process and the definitive identification and quantification with GC/MS confirmation, the use of these OTC drugs will not result in a confirmed positive drug test. ![]() It is a common misconception that OTC cold medications may produce positive results in workplace drug tests but the fact is that while some of these may cause a specimen to initially screen as non-negative, they will not confirm positive in the second step of the GC/MS testing process. Sympathomimetics like those listed above will not produce a confirmed, positive drug screen. Sympathomimeticsĭrugs such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylephrine are commonly used as decongestants in OTC cold and flu medicines or as appetite suppressants. Donors using medications that contain hydrocodone may test positive in some drug test panels. Unfortunately, it is highly addictive, and when improperly used, hydrocodone can lead to serious illness or injury. It is also an extremely popular drug of abuse as it can produce feelings of euphoria. This narcotic is widely used to treat pain and is also FDA-approved for use in a handful of prescription medications as a cough suppressant. The use of codeine-containing products may result in a positive drug screen for codeine and/or morphine. Both codeine and morphine are used to relieve pain. When codeine enters the body and is metabolized, it changes to morphine. CodeineĬodeine is used in some medications as a cough suppressant. Some common prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications may contain drugs such as codeine, hydrocodone, and sympathomimetics, which have been reported to affect workplace drug tests. Health experts say that this year is on track to be “ one of the worse flu season in decades.” The CDC reported 6.4 million flu illnesses and 55,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. To learn more about my journey, you can read my introductory post. During my first year of employment, I’m going to write this weekly column highlighting drug testing procedures, products and processes as I discover them. Like some of you, I have a lot to learn about the industry. But if I do, I’ll make sure to keep track of the medications I take – just in case.įor more information about drug testing, visit our website.Īs a new employee at Quest Diagnostics, there’s hardly a day that goes by that I don’t learn something new about the world of drug testing. I received my first flu shot this fall so hopefully I won’t contract anything. If a non-negative result is produced and sent to the Medical Review Officer (MRO), this list of medications can be a useful reminder for the donor to use during the MRO follow up and verification of the result.Īs I sit at my desk writing this post, I hear several different colleagues around the office coughing. It is a common misconception that OTC cold medications will produce positive results in drug tests, but with our two-tiered screening and confirmation process, OTC drugs typically won’t result in a confirmed positive drug test.ĭonors are welcome to list their medications on their copy of the custody and control form (CCF) after providing a specimen. Unlike codeine and hydrocodone, these sympathomimetics will not produce a non-negative drug screen. Some OTC medications, including decongestants, contain drugs such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylephrine. Donors who use prescription drugs containing hydrocodone may trigger a non-negative drug test result in some test panels. And similar to codeine, hydrocodone can be used as a cough suppressant and is widely used to treat pain. When codeine is metabolized in the body, it changes to morphine and therefore drug test results may come back positive for this drug. ![]() Many common prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications contain drugs such as hydrocodone, codeine and sympathomimetics, which have been reported to affect drug test results.Ĭodeine can be found in most prescription cough syrups. This typically means that the cold and flu season has begun, and as such, questions surrounding cold medicines and their impact on drug test results begin to arise. The holidays are almost here and the temperature in Kansas City has dropped below freezing. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |