Common Items That Can Cause a False Positive on a Drug Test

by Vivian R. Smith

For most business owners, finding ways to narrow down the prospective employees that they have is important. There are a variety of ways that they can do this, but none are quite as effective as drug test kits.  While these tests can be highly effective, they are not without issues. There are a number of things that can lead to a false positive on the drug test. For most people, finding out about these factors can save them a lot of grief in the long run. Here are some of the things that may lead to a false negative on a drug test.

Over the Counter Cough Medicines

Among the most common things that will cause a false positive on a drug test is over the counter cough medicine. For the most part, the cough medicines on the market are made with a synthetic amphetamine. Ingesting enough of this medicine before taking a drug test can lead to a positive. The best thing that a person can do is be honest with the company giving them the test. By showing them the type of medicine you are taking, you will be able to account for why the test is showing a positive.

Various B Vitamins

The next thing that may cause a false positive on a drug test is a vitamin B supplement. There are a number of over the counter supplements that will have hemp seed in them. This hemp seed in high enough doses will show up as marijuana. This can lead to you failing a drug test and not getting the job. Make sure to read the labels on the vitamins you take to ensure that you know what is in them.

Too Many Over the Counter Pain Killers

Another very common thing that may lead to a false positive on a drug test is too many over the counter pain killers. Many studies have shown that things like ibuprofen in large enough quantities can lead to a false positive. There are a variety of pain killer alternatives out there that will not have the chemicals that can lead to a false positive. You need to do a bit of research to make sure that you are able to find out what can cause the false positives. Getting this information will allow you to get the right results and pass a supervised drug test.

The last thing that you want to do is to have a false positive due to the damage that it can do to your reputation.