POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: woodshere on October 30, 2007, 04:33:37 pm
-
The "wonderful" agency I work for has decided to implement drug testing for all new employees and random drug testing for all employees. Although I do not partake in recreational drug use, I am totally against this form invasion. I have fought hard to defeat this, but did not prevail. My question is are some HIV med susceptible to being detected in a drug test. If so, should I be proactive and get a statement from my Dr that some medications I am on might be present in a drug test or wait for it to happen and then go about clearing things up.
BTW, I would have thought something like this had been discussed previously however after doing an advanced search for "random drug testing" or "random drug screening" no results were found.
Thanks for any advice,
Woods
-
If it were me, Woodsy, I would get the paper from your doctor. If you wait then it would be too late and if you tried to defend it would kinda make you guilty of trying to hide something when actually you are not. My question would be could they tell what drug is causing the false positive or would it just assume it was recreational drugs?
-
Hey Woodles,
One of them (sustiva I think) can cause false positive results on cannabis testing. Which is handy if you enjoy twisting one up.
:)
MtD
-
Sounds like a SAAB story. ::) ::) ::) ;D
-
Hey Woodles,
One of them (sustiva I think) can cause false positive results on cannabis testing. Which is handy if you enjoy twisting one up.
:)
MtD
I have heard that too. Maybe I should go job hunting since I can smoke and actually get away with it.... :D Who am I? Say it with me now.....Queen Tokelove, the Queen of Green.... ;D
-
icredible, any company in europe who wants to pull that one of, is out of buisness and in front of court in no time
what happens with PRIVACY???
funny country the US
-
Agree with what matty wrote. I'm sure I've read this elsewhere.
oh... here:
http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Meds/Archive/Interactions/Q116612.html
-
Jean-Paul,
icredible, any company in europe who wants to pull that one of, is out of buisness and in front of court in no time
what happens with PRIVACY???
It's nice to see ya back babe, but do you reckon you can lighten up with the America bashing? Europe is as big a shithole as anywhere else.
MtD :-*
-
icredible, any company in europe who wants to pull that one of, is out of buisness and in front of court in no time
what happens with PRIVACY???
funny country the US
Not only is this America bashing, it's not even correct (no surprise there given your track record). My employer, yes in Europe, conducts random drugs tests for the first 6 months of employment and after 6 months you can be forced to take a drug test at random, at the request of your supervisor. And it's perfectly legal.
Your comments are not helpful. If someone in the US is having a problem, the last thing they need is you telling them how great and perfect your continent is. What they need is a proper answer to their question.
-
I worked for a company that had this same policy.....I was never selected for testing but the program ran for several years before they discontinued it...so few tested positive for illegal drugs and the cost of testing was pretty high.......
having said that be sure you get a written copy of the policy and the what ifs ...is a positive test instant dismissal? is there any appreal/revue of test results? who will notify the employee about a positive result and when / how will they be notified?
have the Dr's note available and be sure to reference the sustiva possibility of false positives...DO NOT GIVE ANY PRIOR INFORMATION... YOU MAY NEVER BE SELECTED......
Nick
-
I agree with pozniceguy.
Discuss this with your ID doctor - that way it is documented somewhere that you have a concern. Documentation is important.
Request a doctor's note that simply states you have medical condition that requires you to take medication that could result in a false positive. Keep it with you always.
My further thinking on this is, if you do not want your employer checking into who your doctor is, talk to your doctor about the technicalities of an associate preparing this note. Otherwise, your doctor's note should suffice.
Do not share this note unless you are selected for testing.
Best wishes on not being selected...
-
I have been chosen twice for random testing. I was given a quick form to fill out with my employee information. The form also included a section to list all medications. It was not necessary to provide the reason for the medication, just the name.
bry
-
you wonderful agency is trying to not be exposed to lawsuits.
I am as fond of lawyers as I am explosive diarrhea.
-
I would have a doctors note to give to the testing center, not my employer. If you take sustiva in any form, I would think this is a must. I think it alerts the technicians to administer a more sensitive test that goes past sustiva and detects THC levels. If they pass this information onto your employer...contact lambda legal immediately and sue the shit out of the testing center for divulging private information.
-
My company does random drug testing. I have been there 21 years and went for the FIRST time ever yesterday. Someone in corporate simply sends an email to my boss saying that I have been chosen randomly to go. My boss then gives me the form and from that point I have 2-3 hours to show up. I arrive and fill out a very short questionaire and show a picture ID to prove I am who I am supposed to be. There are NO questions about medications on this form. It is a custody form that I sign and that the tester signs and I initial 2 bottles of urine and date it. Then it is sent to a lab and checked for whatever they check it for. I also provide phone numbers and my understanding is if a positive result comes back then I will be notified and asked to answer some questions. For example did you know that poppy seeds will cause a false positive? I have seen it happen twice. Anyway once you can document what caused the false positive all is well.
It comes down to who you have to provide this information too. I would not tell anyone that does not absoutely need to know. If it is your corporate people then put them in touch with your doctor. Let them hash it out. I don't know that just you having a letter will do you any good. A web site was just busted for selling those fake letters to people to excuse them from work. Just find out who would need the info, make sure it is private and you have HIPPA on your side I think too.
I possess a commercial drivers license so once every two years I have a DOT physical which includes a drug screen. This screen though is just done with a piece of litmus paper in my presence. The test they send away to a lab is a whole different ball game. Since I just took my test yesterday, I hope I am not in for a surprise tomorrow or the next day :-)
Good luck.
Dave in DC
-
Hey Woods,
I asked that very same question at the clinic before a job interview. The test is expensive. I think it costs $400.00 to pee in a cup. The agency will be looking for recreational drugs so, HIV meds should not show up on the test results. My ID doc told me there may be a decrease in white blood cells and to say, "My doctor and I are aware of that and are looking into it."
Being a whiney high maintenance bitch, I finally got my ex to smoke something wrapped in a special paper. The next day, he was called in for a random test in his no-tolerance company... Could have lost his job but... They ran out of cups before his turn to pee. Have the best day
Michael
-
Life would be pretty sweet if I could score a scrip for Marinol and Adderall.
-
Life would be pretty sweet if I could score a scrip for Marinol and Adderall.
I asked for Medical Marijuana and got Marinol. If I may so bold as to use a pastry metaphor, getting Marinol was a piece of cake ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Have the best day
Michael
-
From the Atripla leaflet...
Efavirenz Assay Interference
Cannabinoid Test Interaction: Efavirenz does not bind to cannabinoid receptors. False-positive urine cannabinoid test
results have been observed in non-HIV-infected volunteers receiving efavirenz when the Microgenics Cedia DAU Multi-
Level THC assay was used for screening. Negative results were obtained when more specific confirmatory testing was
performed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. For more information, please consult the SUSTIVA
prescribing information.
-
see I knew there was a SAAB story in there somewhere Michael.
-
Life would be pretty sweet if I could score a scrip for Marinol and Adderall.
I have those, plus my medical marijuana card.....live is grand in California ;D
Rich
(who has never failed a drug test and still never misses a single day of " herbal therapy")