My u/a experience so far..

[deandavidmartin]

I've worked for a fortune 500 company for over a decade now, and have only had to take a drug test once, to get the job. About a month ago I find out that because of a 3rd party company who's premises I will begin working on from time to time, require I get a full background check and a u/a to get a full access badge for access to said 3rd party company premises (total bullshit, but a fact of life). The background check is not a problem, the u/a IS. I've been a consistent head since college (I'm in my late 30's now). I don't know if you the would call my usage "chronic" or "heavy", I don't know what that means exactly, but consistent? Yes, like every day. So immediately I abstain and started drinking tones of water, popping AZO cranberry pills and B12 (I'm not convinced that helps in any meaningful way but it can't hurt and I added it here because that's what I did). I did stop drinking water and taking the pills the day before I took my home tests because I didn't want to dilute, I wanted an honest appraisal of my progress). Fortunately I was able to stall the background check and the u/a and I'm still doing so. However, I think my time is running out on that.


6/20/2012: (DAY 1) I find out I will have to take a u/a and abstain. Constantly drinking water, taking 2 AZO cranberry pills in the morning and 2 in the evening along with 3 B12 pills am and pm (I'm not saying this has any positive effect, it's just what I did).

7/10/2012: (DAY 21) I take my first home drug test (FirstCheck THC), first void, and get the "VERY VERY VERY" faint drug line (the line is fucking there, I swear!). It appears that I passed, but I sent it in to FirstCheck for the complimentary GC/MS and FAILED @ 21ng. (Picture below)
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/3787/20120710063428615.jpg


7/12/2012: (DAY 23) I take my second home drug test, first void, but this time I can actually see the very faint pink line in the "drug" window with confidence. I send this one into FirstCheck again for the complimentary GC/MS and PASSED @ <15ng (they don't quantify the result if it's passing, but they did say it was ran though the GC/MS and showed negative at the 15ng cut off level. (Picture below - a bit blurry because I was having a panic attack hoping for something positive)
http://imageshack.us/f/841/201207120639116881.jpg



I've taken two more FirstCheck THC drug tests at 30 days and 32 days sober. The pink "drug" line is also confidently visible but not much more visible if any than the one I took on the 12th (DAY 21). And I hope to be able to delay the u/a until I get those results back from the FirstCheck GC/MS. I send in all my samples whether I think they are passing or not, it's free so why wouldn't you? The only problem is that it took the USPS 12 days to ship my last test! (using normal postage) I would recommend sending them first class or something to get them to the lab quicker. I also wish FirstCheck would quantify THC levels that where below the 15ng cut off point, but they don't (probably for legal reasons).

In conclusion, I feel confident that I will pass a u/a with out having to substitute a clean sample (which I have lined up from a close and trusted friend if needed). I understand that there is a natural ebb and flow of THC levels that might not be consistent from day to day, but if I get back a passing result from the tests I sent out on DAY 30 I will know I'm good to go. This whole process has been a nightmare and I'm going to continue to abstain for the near future. It's just not worth losing everything you've worked for. I'd sub if I had to but it scares me a bit. But most heads are sneaky and clever people, so I'm confident I could pull it off if I had to.

[deandavidmartin]

7/19/2012: (DAY 30) I take my third home drug test, first void, again I see the very faint pink line in the "drug" window with confidence. I send this one into FirstCheck again for the complimentary GC/MS and PASSED @ <15ng. I just got back my results today (It didn't take as long in the mail this time). I'm going to continue to push the u/a out as far as I can for safe measure, but it looks like I'm clean for sure now.
http://imageshack.us/f/407/20120719062415135.jpg/

[deandavidmartin]

7/25/2012: (DAY 36) I used mdlabtests.com to have my own personal drug test performed at Labcorp, and I submitted a sample to them today. I went over the substitution routine in my head while I was in the bathroom and thought to myself that it would be pretty easy to sub if I had to (I didn't feel rushed, there should be plenty of time to get it right if you practiced). My temp read 94F on the temp strip when I walked out of the bathroom (that's where the green dot was at). I'll get those results back 24-48 hours and I'm sure I'll be negative. My wife thinks I've gone completely insane going though all this, but better safe than sorry. Also got an email from work today saying my background check passed and I can schedule my u/a now. I'm going to ignore that email and push this as far as I can for good measure.

[groovesalad]

How did your actual UA go today? Do you still feel like you could sub? How much or how little privacy did you have?

I will be at 21 days when I take my test but am still pretty sure I am going to sub just to be safe.

[deandavidmartin]

8/13/2012: (DAY 55 of sobriety - 33 days testing clean) 4 days prior I started creatine loading and taking b2, hand fulls of tums and drinking Gatorade and water. At this point I had been testing myself every day at home for the past 20 days, each time, the first void of the day (with no dilution the night before). I read a few posts on here of people testing clean for weeks and then testing positive for some unknown reason. It's probably total bullshit, but it spooked me enough so that I tested myself for 3 weeks straight, OCD style. I figured if at any time I failed since I passed my first passing test on 7/12, I'd say fuck it and substitute. Fortunately, I passed each subsequent test I took. I tried not to change any habit like exercise or diet. In fact I started eating way more than I should and stopped all exercise as the real test drew closer to put my body into hibernation mode. The day of the test I drank a few glasses of water in the morning with my creatine and b2 pills and downed a few tums. On the way to LabCorp I drank half a 32oz bottle of Gatorade. I took my u/a at LabCorp at about 3:45pm (right before they stop drug tests). There was 1 other person in the waiting room, not crowded at all with virtually no waiting period. I made small talk with the receptionist, told her "I'd be right back, got to go get some water out of the water fountain so I could provide a specimen.", she was cool and said to take my time. I needed it because I pissed tested myself at home before the real test, which of course I passed. And also tested myself after I got home, again, passed. Finally at 3:50 I went back with the lab tech, she told me to put my cell phone in a drawer, I didn't have to empty my pockets. She gave me a cup and told me to fill it up to a certain point. She walked me to the bathroom and told me not to wash my hands or flush the toilet and that I had 4 minuets to provide the sample to her, she closed the door, I locked it and pissed in the cup. I'm pretty sure, with some practice, subbing would be no problem at all. I gave her the cup, she checked off the box that asked if the specimen was between 90-100 degrees (mine was 96 degrees when I left the bathroom), and also that I provided the specimen within 4 minuets.

The deed is done. I can't imagine with all the time, testing, quantifying, and consistently verifying I've done that there should be any problem what so ever. Of course I'll let everyone know when I find out. Hopefully I won't have a long wait and I can put this nightmare behind me. Before I start to smoke again I'm going to get a bottle of QF and keep it handy.

[deandavidmartin]

7/25/2012: (DAY 36) I used mdlabtests.com to have my own personal drug test performed at Labcorp, and I submitted a sample to them today. I went over the substitution routine in my head while I was in the bathroom and thought to myself that it would be pretty easy to sub if I had to (I didn't feel rushed, there should be plenty of time to get it right if you practiced). My temp read 94F on the temp strip when I walked out of the bathroom (that's where the green dot was at). I'll get those results back 24-48 hours and I'm sure I'll be negative. My wife thinks I've gone completely insane going though all this, but better safe than sorry. Also got an email from work today saying my background check passed and I can schedule my u/a now. I'm going to ignore that email and push this as far as I can for good measure.

Of course I got this result back negative. But a side note about the personal drug test I took at on 7/25/2012 at LabCorp. Those fuckers lost my first piss test, I had to retake it. So for all of you who think you can go back to smoking right after you take your u/a, DON'T. Wait at least until you get a confirmation that you passed or what have you. Don't fuck up in this way, fyi.

[deandavidmartin]

I just received word that I passed! I will be getting my badge to said third party company tomorrow! That's my word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111onethousand onehundredeleven

[deandavidmartin]

The goal of this thread was to help people who are or will be in a similar situation as I was, and to provide as much accurate anecdotal information as possible based on my experience. And to generally answer those panicked questions that everyone has once they learn they'll be subject to a U/A. Hope this helps, peace.

Special thanks to Burnt Toast who I know has helped save many people from losing their livelihoods or freedom by helping to educate people with accurate information! Educating yourself with accurate information will improve your chances close to 100% in most cases in passing a u/a. Informing yourself is key in this process. Thanks to Burnt Toast for helping facilitate that! /tip of the cap/

[Burnt Toast]

I just received word that I passed! I will be getting my badge to said third party company tomorrow! That's my word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111onethousand onehundredelevenGlad to be of some help..And congrads to you on passing and securing that badge, DDM. :thumbsup:

Will you now be subject to random testing?

[deandavidmartin]

Badge renewal every two years. I will assume they will drug test again during that time although they didn't say so explicitly. Still, I'm going to get some quick fix and store it in the freezer, just in case of a random. Having been subject to a modern u/a, I can attest to the ease with which subbing would be possible. Thanks again BT!

[Burnt Toast]

Badge renewal every two years. I will assume they will drug test again during that time although they didn't say so explicitly Yeah, even though they didnt spell it out to you, it still pays dividends to be prepared.


Still, I'm going to get some quick fix and store it in the freezer, just in case of a random. Fortunately, the QF doesnt require freezing. It can be stored at room temp all the way to the end of its 18-24 month shelf life . :thumbsup:

[deandavidmartin]

Bumped to inform the newcomers. People ask the same questions over and over. I had the same questions. Education is the best way to beat a drug test.

[insipidsmoke]

Great thread. Your Obsessive compulsive tendencies gave great education and play by play. Thankyou. Glad I found this.