Still in a panic

Ok so I am a stay at home mom and I am so freaking embarrassed that I am really asking all of this..... I didn't plan on getting a job and my dream job called and asked me to come to work. So I accepted. I have to pass a test. I smoke maybe one time a week and a few puffs. I am NOT a regular heavy user. I have probably smoke 4 times in the past month and it has been 12 days since the last time. I have taken 3 at home tests and I have passed all 3. I have bought different brands and everything. I even used the first "sample" of the day as it is supposed to be the dirtiest. I passed the first test 8 days ago, the second test yesterday and the third first thing this morning. The part that I am most concerned about is that I KNOW I am going to fail because of the meds I take. I have sleeping disorders and I take ritalin and I also take pain meds (both of which I have prescriptions for) are they going to look harder at my sample because of my meds? Are they going to test harder then my at home tests for THC. Please help. I am bordering on a panic attack and I will freak if I fail this test. Oh yeah, I didn't drink an unusual amount of water prior to the tests, normal, water, soda, juice intake for the day. The lines were not as dark as the control line, but weren't hard to see, but I would consider them light. Next thing is my body type, I have 2 small kids and I am not as thin as I used to be and my metabolism isn't what it once was. I feel like I am going to puke, I am so scared about all of this. Please help me! Ease my nerves!

Um well, I doubt they'll even see that you have the other meds in your blood because they won't test for that, and even if they did you have a prescription. Also, It's not like they're going to say XANAX RED FLAG ORDER THE MOST EXPENSIVE TEST!!!!!! lol. Also, the home tests are the most sensitive. They'll probably just give you some shitty test and you'll pass, unless you smoke before your job test. Just hope they don't test for hair, which they probably won't

420marijuana, I am sorry to say this but you are completely wrong. Opiates are part of the basic tests as you will see in my response plus they don't get the verification for prescription meds until all tests are run. Home tests are accurate but not quite as accurate as lab testing. Lab tests do not use shitty testing. They are precise and accurate. Xanax wasn't in question here either. Also they aren't testing blood, they are testing urine. Detection times for drugs in urine and blood are different. You can actually pass a blood test for many drugs but fail the urine test because the kidneys reconcentrate the metabolites in the urine. No hard feelings please but I had to give the OP the correct info so I had to show the flaws in your response. :)

Now This is what is going to happen. You will get tested for at least the big 5, THC, PCP, cocaine, amphetamine, and opiates. They can chose to test for more but you will get tested for at least these. The test will first undergo immunoassay testing as well as validity testing. Immunoassay technology is what is used in home tests. Home tests are quite accurate nearly 95% so if you are passing THC home tests you will probably pass the lab immunoassay. Although it is similar to amphetamines in how it works and why it is prescribes, Ritalin is not an amphetamine so depending on if they are testing for more than the big 5 you may or may not pass the immunoassay for Ritalin. Depending on which opiates and the dosages, if you have taken them in the last week you will probably get what is called "nonnegative" on immunoassay for opiates. The lab will then have to confirm the sample for opiates so it will be confirmed using GC/MS. They will retest another portion of your sample for all the drugs they juste tested the sample for with immunoassay using GC/MS. Immunoassay uses a 50 ng/ml cutoff for THC while GC/MS uses 15 ng/ml cutoff for THC. However immunoassay looks at 31 possible metabolites of THC while GC/MS looks at only one metabolite, THC-COOH because there is only one reason why you can have THC-COOH in your urine, because you used marijuana. It will eliminate any possibility of false positives too. So now I know you are worried about this and you probably saw bits and pieces of GC/MS and immunoassay on the web and maybe this site. What you probably didn't see is that because immunoassay is looking for 31 metabolites and GC/MS is looking for 1 metabolite, these levels correlate to pretty much the same thing. If you are passing immunoassay for THC metabolites you will probably pass GC/MC for THC metabolites. Nothing is certain but you should pass. You will fail for opiates once it goes to GC/MS. The MRO will then call you to verify you have valid in date scripts for the opiates. If they did look for Ritalin the same thing would happen as with the opiates, but like I said not all tests look for Ritalin metabolites.

So what can you do? If you passed 8 days ago your level has probably dropped in half because the half-life of THC is anywhere from 0.8 days to 10 days depending on the person. You can do a mild dilution if you want to help dilute your THC metabolite level. You can sub and just pass for everything. You could stop taking your prescription meds if the test is in a week or more. I can't tell when your test is or if you have taken it, you are a little unclear.

I took the test already. It was a urine test. I didn't do anything to it. I have the prescriptions for the meds. I thought ritalin was an amphetaimine (my spelling isn't that good, forgive me). I am not worried about the pain meds (they are loritab and I take them daily) or the ritalin as I have prescriptions that are current for every thing. I see my doctors on a regular basis and have a legit reason for them. I am just so concerned over the pot showing up. I would be so embarrassed if I didn't this job because of that. How long does it take to get the results back? I took my meds with me to the testing center as I thought they would want to see them so we didn't have to drag this out. The nurse said no, they would call me and get the RX number once the test came back. So you think passing the 3 at home tests is good enough. Does the line have to be dark or is a lighter line ok? Has anyone ever passed at home tests and failed lab tests? So because I take pain meds they will look harder at the THC level in my urine. How far apart is the level for the 2 tests? Sorry I am normally calm cool and collected and this freaking test has had me in an uproar!

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Originally Posted by KrissyKay

I took the test already. It was a urine test. I didn't do anything to it. I have the prescriptions for the meds. I thought ritalin was an amphetaimine (my spelling isn't that good, forgive me). I am not worried about the pain meds (they are loritab and I take them daily) or the ritalin as I have prescriptions that are current for every thing. I see my doctors on a regular basis and have a legit reason for them. I am just so concerned over the pot showing up. I would be so embarrassed if I didn't this job because of that. How long does it take to get the results back? I took my meds with me to the testing center as I thought they would want to see them so we didn't have to drag this out. The nurse said no, they would call me and get the RX number once the test came back. So you think passing the 3 at home tests is good enough. Does the line have to be dark or is a lighter line ok? Has anyone ever passed at home tests and failed lab tests? So because I take pain meds they will look harder at the THC level in my urine. How far apart is the level for the 2 tests? Sorry I am normally calm cool and collected and this freaking test has had me in an uproar!

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I answered every one of these things I put in bold except the line question in my response as correctly and clear and simple as possible. Ritalin is not an amp and requires its own test, they do not get the prescriptions before the test,
and it isn't that they are looking "harder" at the drugs when it goes to GC/MS it is a different type of test. I explained the difference in these levels too. Please read everything again because I can't make it more simple than I already wrote. A faint line means you are under the 50 ng/ml immunoassay level which is passing but you may have some THC metabolites and not be at 0 ng/ml. The test line rarely is as dark as the control.

How long do these tests take? When should I expect to get a phone call? I guess the only question that I really had is how much of a difference is 15 and 50.

I did read you answer a couple of times and I just was really commenting that I assumed ritalin would show up, not really questioning it. Mostly I am just worried and rambling my worries.

You said

If you passed 8 days ago your level has probably dropped in half because the half-life of THC is anywhere from 0.8 days to 10 days depending on the person.

So if that is the case, this should be correct.... If my level was under 50 8 days ago it should be under 25 today if not lower.

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Originally Posted by KrissyKay

You said

If you passed 8 days ago your level has probably dropped in half because the half-life of THC is anywhere from 0.8 days to 10 days depending on the person.

So if that is the case, this should be correct.... If my level was under 50 8 days ago it should be under 25 today if not lower.

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Now you are getting it. If you got a line on your home test then you had to be at least 49.9999 or less so in 8 days (unless you THC-half life was 9 or 10 days) then you have gone through at least one half-life so that would be 49.9999/2 or 24.99995 or lower. This is measuring a possible 31 metabolites of THC. When it goes to GC/MS they are only looking for 1 metabolite while immunoassay was looking for 31 metabolites so you can't just look at "well the difference between 50ng and 15ng is 35ng." It usually takes 2-3 days to get the results.

You said your half life could be 9 or 10 days. How is that determined? I going assume, use, body type and so on. So I could assume since I don't smoke a lot either in quantity or in frequency that my half life could be faster or slower because of my metabolism.

Some of the things that influence half life are percent body fat (lower is better in most cases), activity level (more aerobic activity or manual physical labor jobs are better), metabolism, genetics, and diet . If you are a chronic smoker some studies show that lowers half-life other studies show it lowers it. I wouldn't assume because you are a light or infrequent smoker you have a smaller half life.

Thanks so much! I will keep everyone posted as to the results. I think i need to partake to destress... but that is what got me into this mess... hehe. Just kidding... I really want to thank you for your help and patiences.

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Originally Posted by FakeBoobsRule

If you are a chronic smoker some studies show that lowers half-life other studies show it lowers it. I wouldn't assume because you are a light or infrequent smoker you have a smaller half life.

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Sorry I made a mistake, I meant some studies show that lowers half-life other studies show that raises half life. Opps!

OK The fix is in... I went to Quest and did the sub and it went perfect. The sample was a little warm at 100 but a couple blows and swirls and it was perfect. I'm just waiting for the call...

I took the test Monday a little after lunch and I have still not got my call to get verify my meds. I thought they would have called yesterday, any thoughts? I was calming down, but the longer the lab doesn't call, the more paniced I get. I am back to feeling like I am going to puke. Should I call the lab or what should I do, just sit and wait for them to call me?

Just wait.

Might I recommend a bowl to calm your nerves? :p j/k

Dont give them any reason to be suspicious. Its possible its caught up amoungst alot of other lab work, or any other number of things.

If you look act like you belong, people will usually think you belong. Dont act suspicious, dont act like you need to know if you passed. You want them to think that you know you passed, because you havent done anything wrong. Dont give them any other impression. =)

I know you are right and I would tell someone the same thing, it is just hard when I am the one sweating it out. I just know they are going to call and the wait is killing me. I want to wait to smoke until I am securly in my job and can relax. I have some nerve pills that I am going to take. I am normally so calm and collected and reasonable. My nerves have been a mess about all of this.

Thanks for reminding me to chill out! I need that sometimes!

the phone call came and the doc got the RX number from me. He lectured me on taking pain meds which I thought was rude and none of his business. However, he said he was going to call and validate the prescription and that would be the end. SO it is all good! I figured that if there was any other problem, he would have told me at that time. I can breath easy and relax! Yeah! I think I need a drink! hehe!

Thanks for your help!

KrissyKay, did I not tell you exactly what was going to happen? Another satified customer. The lecture was uncalled for since he has no hisotry or physical.

I am returning the drink I bought from GNC. I bought it and didn't use it. Glad I read ahead before I used it. I thought the lecture was crap esp since I have a reason for taking them. He said I shouldn't ever drive and that he would tell them I was a safety risk due to meds. I said well good thing I will be on a computer and the phone all day. He made some more smart comments and told me I need to get my doc to change my meds. This man has NEVER even met me expect for this conversation. I was not HAPPY with him at all. My husband said I should complain to someone as it is NONE of his business and he has no right to do that. I don't want to rock the boat and I just so happy that I passed and it is done! Relief never felt so good!

PS fake boobs knows what he is talking about!