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Recently a donor who tested positive for cocaine adamantly denied using the drug. No surprise so far. He then admitted that he packaged cocaine for sale. Sometimes, he continued, he tasted the drug just to make sure it was good stuff. He said that this wasn't drug use - just part of doing business. He never did understand why I had to report this as a positive.
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Here's one from the "What were they thinking" file. The donor's cold specimen came up positive for cocaine while his second, observed specimen that was within the normal temperature range came back negative! |
| | Here's an excuse I have never heard before. I called the donor to inform him of his test result. He gave me the correct SSN, but then he denied ever taking the test!
He admitted to having a physical examine and giving a specimen for a dipstick test, but had no recall of giving a specimen for the drug test. I went over the entire testing process - and he denied doing any of it.
We contacted the clinic and they had done everything properly. We compared the signature on the COC with his signature on the registration form and they matched. We even got an affidavit from the collector.
I guess there's a good reason his drug test came out positive! |
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Here's a story from Ed Galaid, MD: True story. My nurse just told me. You may want to time your lunch accordingly to when you read this.
25 y.o. female comes in for a urine drug test collection. She comes out with the specimen....my nurse notes some "floaties" as she calls them...in the specimen. Temperature's ok, etc. So my nurse asks the donor whether she knows was this debris was. Donor says she doesn't know.
Donor calls back a half hour later...she asks for the nurse. She tells the nurse...about the "floaties"....she says, "Well, my boyfriend and I were foolin' around in his truck during lunchtime...."
BTW, nothing phases my nurse, who previously was a barkeeper. But this one turned her usually tanned complexion beet-red. |
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From Larry Grabhorn, MD, MPH: An individual tested positive for THC. He stated that he didn't use marijuana but did deal drugs and must have inhaled smoke from the fire that destroyed his bedroom (and stash).
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Here are a few from my calls: The donor, who tested positive for THC, explained that he didn't use marijuana but his wife, who has multiple sclerosis, uses it to help ease her symptoms. He lights her joints and must have inhaled some smoke while doing this. I actually belief him. The first time I called his wife answered the phone. When asked to take a message, she said she would but would be very slow due to her disability. Her voice had that "MS sound" to it. I still had to report the case as a positive. |
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One time, why I don't know, I asked a donor who tested positive for THC why he wanted a copy of his test results. He said that he had purchased a product to clean his urine. With proof of a failed test he could get double his money back. |
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I had a cocaine-positive donor seriously explain to me that he never used cocaine. However, he was a dealer and probably had a positive result from handling the drug.
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We hear all sorts of explanations for passive exposure. This one is kind of graphic - the female donor wanted to know if her THC positive could be explained by the oral sex she performed on her marijuana-using boyfriend.
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One donor's first specimen was cold and positive for cocaine. Her second specimen was within temperature range and positive for THC. When interviewed, she quickly came clean and admitted use of marijuana. When asked to explain the positive cold specimen, she admitted it was her boyfriend's urine. He had promised her his urine was clean. She said she was going to "whip his ass!"
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From Jane St. Clair, MD, comes this short explanation: "I can't be positive. I am pregnant."
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When asked about his use, a THC-positive donor exclaimed "Hey, man, it was my birthday!" And indeed it was! Unfortunately, Jonathan S. Mittelman, MD, MPH, wasn't swayed by the excuse. |
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Here's one told to Andrew Vaughn, MD, MPH: A couple of years ago a job applicant from a rural part of New York State explained his positive THC drug screen by pointing out that he had had a good hunting season and had been eating "lots of venison sausage". He expected that I would understand the connection, but I didn't, and had to ask why this would matter. It was, of course, obvious in the end. The deer were eating the cannabis being grown in the woods by rather more entreprenurial neighbors, and since he shot the deer and ate the venison...well, what should one expect? |
