C.R. England Nightmare Experience (True Story, Need Help! Nondrug User Tested Positive!)

I will post this information, for a scientific basis of the drug testing process, since this topic has garnered such attention. It may be of use to members of the forum or future visitors. I won’t provide any basis on the situation the poster is in. I am not an expert and certain details may be inaccurate.

In the world of drug testing you have urine and hair follicle testing. Both are conducted with your standard immunoassay testing, which is a enzyme response test. Stick and card tests, such as COVID rapid response are immunoassay. This does lead to false positives given that molecules with similar structure may react to the enzyme (lock and key mechanism).

Once a positive immunoassay is acquired, it is then reviewed in a confirmatory test using liquid or gas chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/GC-MS). This process will properly identify what compounds are detected, referenced to a database of chemical signatures matching the compounds. At this point, medical staff at the lab should contact you and inquire about any prescription and OTC medications you are on. This aids in narrowing down what is being detected.

Every drug will excrete its own profile. For example, Sudafed may seem similar to an enzyme in immunoassay, but not in gas chromatography. It will not identify as an amphetamine. It identifies the metabolite it actually is. You may be on Adderall, which actually is amphetamine salts. Adderall has a different metabolite profile than methamphetamine. That, along with your dosing and documented prescription history will correlate to the results. A hair follicle test can be broken down into sections to identify use over time, such as in one month periods. Hair on your scalp grows an average of half an inch per month. The lab will also retain part of the sample for retesting purposes. The hair is also thoroughly cleaned to remove outside contaminants.

During this review process, there is not just one, but several people reviewing your case. An instance of this failing would be errant negligence in analysis or processing of your sample, although it is possible.

Providing your own test will have little to no value in defending your case. Most likely, the remaining lab sample is your best bet.

Kal-et unless you had Walter White hiding in your basement and cranking out meth having your home tested is a waste of money. A quick google search will show that when someone smoking meth it is extremely unlikely that it contaminate anything. Someone would have to be cooking it. And even then it sounds like it has to be quite a bit. And if that was the case you wouldn’t necessarily get high from it but suffer side effects like headache, irritation of the lungs etc.

I will post this information, for a scientific basis of the drug testing process, since this topic has garnered such attention. It may be of use to members of the forum or future visitors. I won’t provide any basis on the situation the poster is in. I am not an expert and certain details may be inaccurate.

In the world of drug testing you have urine and hair follicle testing. Both are conducted with your standard immunoassay testing, which is a enzyme response test. Stick and card tests, such as COVID rapid response are immunoassay. This does lead to false positives given that molecules with similar structure may react to the enzyme (lock and key mechanism).

Once a positive immunoassay is acquired, it is then reviewed in a confirmatory test using liquid or gas chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/GC-MS). This process will properly identify what compounds are detected, referenced to a database of chemical signatures matching the compounds. At this point, medical staff at the lab should contact you and inquire about any prescription and OTC medications you are on. This aids in narrowing down what is being detected.

Every drug will excrete its own profile. For example, Sudafed may seem similar to an enzyme in immunoassay, but not in gas chromatography. It will not identify as an amphetamine. It identifies the metabolite it actually is. You may be on Adderall, which actually is amphetamine salts. Adderall has a different metabolite profile than methamphetamine. That, along with your dosing and documented prescription history will correlate to the results. A hair follicle test can be broken down into sections to identify use over time, such as in one month periods. Hair on your scalp grows an average of half an inch per month. The lab will also retain part of the sample for retesting purposes. The hair is also thoroughly cleaned to remove outside contaminants.

During this review process, there is not just one, but several people reviewing your case. An instance of this failing would be errant negligence in analysis or processing of your sample, although it is possible.

Providing your own test will have little to no value in defending your case. Most likely, the remaining lab sample is your best bet.

That's the off thing, they flat out refused to allow me access to that sample or even have it sent to the lab that I went to. Thing is, I don't trust them at this point. They told me I was guilty of something that I am not, and then when I asked them for a retest, they said, and I quote, "It would just come back the same, it will cost you $200 out of your own pocket and even if you do contest the results, you are going home anyway."

They pretty much shot me down the very instant I proclaimed my innocence. Since they did this, I no longer trusted them. I was being railroaded from retesting and sent home no matter what. This is why I wanted my own choice of a lab, and I picked a reputable lab who does lab work for Federal Court cases. If this too comes back positive, then I have to accept that I had meth in my system at some point within the past year. At that point, it will be a matter of finding out how I got it in my system, since I don't do drugs...like at all, nor have I ever felt like I was on anything. So if it was in my system at some point, I never noticed any affects from it. That is what makes it hard for me to accept that I had possibly been poisoned. But if I was, I won't be able to prove that without a confession.

Apparently these tests aren't as accurate as they claim, considering 7 police officers from the same police department has went through this very same thing, luckily they were able to prove their innocence, although the article I read never said how.

As far as my new test not proving anything, well, that's not what my lawyer told me. Especially since we are looking at a year time table here, not just 90 days.

Kal-et unless you had Walter White hiding in your basement and cranking out meth having your home tested is a waste of money. A quick google search will show that when someone smoking meth it is extremely unlikely that it contaminate anything. Someone would have to be cooking it. And even then it sounds like it has to be quite a bit. And if that was the case you wouldn’t necessarily get high from it but suffer side effects like headache, irritation of the lungs etc.

Doesn't matter anyway. Got my results back today and tested positive for meth. It was clearly not a botched test the first time and since I have tested positive on my test that I paid with my own cash for, I have no choice but to admit that I have had meth in my system. What I don't know is how much, when, or if it was a tiny amount over a long period of time since the test dates back 1 year. And worst of all, I have nothing at all to prove my innocence because all of the evidence proves that I did indeed at some point within the past year have meth that passed through my liver. In other words, I'm screwed. I tested with a 6378 pg/mg and 500 pg/mg was the cut off. That is quite a bit over the limit of positive marker.

However, when I had asked them how much that exactly is, as in, how much meth would have to be in my system to test that number, they simply told me that they can't tell if that is a method that was delivered all at once, or if it was a method delivered over the course of the past year. So I am no better off now than I was before.

The lab tech told me that the only way to find out when and how much, was to go to an actual hospital and have them run tests on me, and the price for such tests is in the thousands. My ex insists that I tested positive due to oral sex, yet I have found absolutely nothing that backs that up other than information out there that states that addicts will get their "fix" by ingesting bodily fluids of other addicts to save money on the drug. I won't get specific, because quite honestly, it's disgusting. Other than Doctor Oz apparently stating that you can test positive through oral sex (or so I have been told) I can find nothing that supports it. So I am no wiser now than I was the day I found out that I had tested positive for meth.

So I guess I had just better get used to being treated like a drug addict and move on with my life. People who know me know better, but like I told them, it's not about what you know, it's about what you can prove, and at this point, I can't prove anything. If this were a judge ruling my case, I would be deemed guilty.

I won't be wasting any more of your time, folks. Unfortunately I am unable to prove myself. I maintain my innocence, but I cannot prove it. I apologize for wasting everyone's time.

In your original post you asked...

What can I do?

Many of us gave you the best advice possible. You've refused to take it. The FMCSA gives you one path to take if you want to get into this career after a failed drug test.

You are all hung up on your own integrity. You'll have to get over that and go through the SAP process. It's the only way I know of to deal with this problem.

In your original post you asked...

What can I do?

Many of us gave you the best advice possible. You've refused to take it. The FMCSA gives you one path to take if you want to get into this career after a failed drug test.

You are all hung up on your own integrity. You'll have to get over that and go through the SAP process. It's the only way I know of to deal with this problem.

At this point, doesn't look like I have a choice. I want to drive. That is my only chance in hell of being able to do so. I don't think I have any other options. I'm still waiting for my DAC report, not sure how long that takes to hear a response from. It's not on the Clearing House, just waiting to get back my DAC report.

Anyway, I have taken enough of everyone's time. I have a few life choices to make. Thanks, everyone.

I'm not disputing your statement but isnt that mostly/entirely for DOT tests? I'm legitimately asking as I don't know

In your original post you asked...

What can I do?

Many of us gave you the best advice possible. You've refused to take it. The FMCSA gives you one path to take if you want to get into this career after a failed drug test.

You are all hung up on your own integrity. You'll have to get over that and go through the SAP process. It's the only way I know of to deal with this problem.

In your original post you asked...

What can I do?

Many of us gave you the best advice possible. You've refused to take it. The FMCSA gives you one path to take if you want to get into this career after a failed drug test.

You are all hung up on your own integrity. You'll have to get over that and go through the SAP process. It's the only way I know of to deal with this problem.

At this point, doesn't look like I have a choice. I want to drive. That is my only chance in hell of being able to do so. I don't think I have any other options. I'm still waiting for my DAC report, not sure how long that takes to hear a response from. It's not on the Clearing House, just waiting to get back my DAC report.

Anyway, I have taken enough of everyone's time. I have a few life choices to make. Thanks, everyone.

Kal 'el;

IMHO, you've NOT been a 'waste' of anyone's time. Somehow, with all you've been through; I do believe that when you get this sorted out and it's all resolute, your conundrum can & will be a help, to future drivers, stopping in here.

Please keep sharing your (unfortunate) journey. Let us know how your DAC comes back (you can get a free one from HireRight) DAC History Report, and what the protocol/enrollment, etc . . . entails with the S.A.P. program you'll be entering.

Thanks, and always best wishes;

~ Anne ~

ps; Again, I'm sorry. I've got empathy, as I mentioned, re: my late ex husband. I'm closer to your plight than many/most. Mine ended otherwise, however.

Ok get the dozer, dig the hole, and bury the dead horse now lol Sucks this came to be, just now time move forward best ya can.

Not sure if he has a DAC report at this point since he is only permitted. Someone please confirm or refute this; thank you.

Like several of us already said; this will not appear on the national database. Until hair follicle testing is FMCSA approved, it’s not going to be reported.