Many workplaces across the US follow a drug testing policy. The employees are regularly screened for cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, marijuana, phencyclidine (PCP), methadone, and opioids.
Individuals who don’t even use illicit drugs may fear a false positive on their test. A false-positive occurs when the test detects illegal substances even though you haven’t ingested any.
This happens in 5-10% of the cases which can jeopardize your career and tarnish your image unless you prove otherwise. Fortunately, you can win over this test result and save your job. Read on to know how!
Common Substances that can cause a false positive
The testing is usually done through urine but can also include hair follicles, blood, and saliva at times. Getting a false positive on your drug test even when you are not an active user is more common than you think.
Here are a few substances that can alter your drug results:
Poppy seeds: These seeds on your bagel contain opioids like morphine and codeine. They are usually used to treat constipation, cough, and even diarrhea. Its effects stay in your system for more than 48 hours and can lead to a false positive.
Antidepressants: The medication contains Sertraline, a drug commonly used to treat depression, panic attacks, and other mental disorders. Drug tests detect the presence of benzodiazepine drugs in people who take antidepressants. This is because Sertraline has the same chemical structure as a benzodiazepine.
Weight loss pills: Phentermine is a doctor-approved appetite suppressant. It is similar to amphetamines, a highly addictive drug. It may cause false positives on your drug test.
Passive weed smoke: Passive smoke can cause a positive result if you get tested right after getting exposed. Your urine can have traces of THC in this case.
Antihistamines: Many anti-allergic medications contain diphenhydramine which treats coughs and runny noses. It can be detected as methadone or PCP in the drug screenings and make you fail them.
Coca tea: The coca leaves used to prepare this herbal tea contains alkaloids that also produce cocaine. The tea residues stay in your system for about 36 hours. You should not consume it during this period to get a negative test result.
Other than these, antipsychotic drugs, HIV medication, baby soap, anti-inflammatory drugs can also test you positive in the screenings.
You may get a false positive for alcohol if you have food with yeast (baked goods) or use mouthwash.
Do home remedies work to prevent these false results?
The best way we can think of detox is naturally. We come across many home remedies that claim to eliminate the toxins from the body for good. While these methods do sound intriguing, it doesn’t help you much. They can’t prevent the false positive on a drug test.
Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV lacks the ability to perform a full cleanse. It only removes a small amount of THC from the body that cannot help you pass the drug test.
Bentonite Clay: When ingested, this clay is known to absorb the negatively charged toxins from the body. Though it does detoxify the system but cannot remove the THC traces effectively.
Cranberry Juice: Frequent urination flushes out the toxins from your body. Cranberry juice does increase your trips to the bathroom but cannot eliminate the THC metabolites from your system.
Sauna: When you sweat, toxins get expelled from your body naturally. But Sauna can’t help you flush the toxins out fully as there is no physical activity involved.
Can you prevent it?
To prevent a false positive and pass the drug test, you can go for a detox. Detoxification is a process that removes the toxic particles from your body and cleanses your system, as noted by MedSignals.
This can be done at home naturally or with detox supplements. The supplements are quite beneficial especially when you have a drug test coming up. They include cannabis detox drinks, pills, and kits that work in as little as 24 hours, according to this study:
Also, they are prescribed according to the amount of toxin exposure. You can do a quick home test before the actual screening to ensure that the toxins are successfully eliminated from your body.
Now, in case you get a false positive on your test, you can fight it with the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry test (GC-MS test) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography test (HPLC test). These tests help in accurately identifying the drug substances in the urine by separating each element in it. It doesn’t mistake them with the foods and medication residues.
They also identify the trace elements which were earlier not recognized in the usual drug screening.
Safety measures while detoxification
Detoxification requires you to make certain changes in your current diet.
While on a detox, you need to be sure it does not have any harmful effects on your health. Here are some safety precautions you can take:
- If you have diabetes, consult your health care provider before making any changes to your diet. Some diets may lead to low blood sugar levels which can be dangerous.
- Detox supplements usually contain laxatives that can cause digestive problems like diarrhea. Keep yourself hydrated to avoid extreme situations.
- Eat a balanced diet rich in fiber that will keep your gut healthy. Add fruits and vegetables to your diet to get phytonutrients. These nutrients support the detoxification process and shield the body from harmful toxins.
- As the detox supplements are not regulated by the FDA, gather all the important information including the ingredients about it. Do not fall prey to illegal supplements that can harm you in the long run.
- Do not take juices high in oxalate (oxalic acid) as it can increase the risk of kidney problems.
Conclusion
To sum it up, you can fight a false positive test by asking for advanced drug tests. Adequate research and knowledge on the subject can save your job. Try not to take substances that can cause such a situation unless necessary.
You can also go for a detox to be absolutely sure to test negative. This is good for your health and wellness.
