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Can Azithromycin Cause False Positive Results For Methamphetamines?

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Posted on Thu, 31 Jul 2014
Question: I was given a drug screening skin patch to wear for a week. Results show that I came up positive for using methamphetamines; which is completely false as I have never used such a drug.
My doctor gave me a shot of Rocephin and swallowed Azithromycin while the Skin Patch was on my arm during this time. Is there any way that the compounds of the antibiotics could have made this kind of false positive reading?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (27 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
not known to cause false positive

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Neither of these medications is known to cause false positive reactions for drug use though they are a host of other medications that could be involved.

If you are using any supplements or over the counter therapies then it is possible that one of these may be involved.

This test is a screening test which means it can provide only an initial possible answer but nothing definitive.

Your false positive result would need to followed up by GC-MS (gas chromatography- mass spectrometry). This is an accurate test that is used to clear up any false positive results. It can accurately determine if any drug is present or absent from a person's system.

Summary: not known to cause false positive though they are other medications that may do so.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (56 minutes later)
Dear Dr XXXXXXX
Thank u for the reply. This all occurred between may 22- may 29th. Is it too late to get this other test done? I have taken drug screen urine tests since and nothing has shown up. I want to do anything in my power to prove this is a false positive from the skin patch monitoring.
Also, a question way out on a limb, could ingesting someones semen who might be under the influence of meth show up since the test measures thru my sweat glands?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (15 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
normally done at same time

Detailed Answer:
HI

Since repeated tests did not show up anything the test may not be an option at this point. The test is normally suggested around the same time as the false positive test to show up what is in the system at that time but I can certainly understand the desire to prove it completely wrong.
If done now would just confirm that you are totally clean now but would not help to prove that your were clean then as well.

It is possible for meth to be passed through semen but the amount is very very small. It may or may be detectable , it would depend on the sensitivity of the test done.

Please feel to ask anything else

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (43 minutes later)
Thank u. Well being that the test absorbs toxins thru the skin i imagine it is very sensitive as tests go. The people at recovery health care (administers of the test) are also telling me that semen injestion would not show up as a positive but i cannot think of any other factor that may have caused such a result. This and the antibiotics i received are the only possible explanation
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
may be sensitive

Detailed Answer:
HI

it may be sensitive test. It would have been best if the more accurate test (the Gc-MS) was done after the initial false positive to prove the result wrong, unfortunately doing it at this time would not be able to clarify any errors from weeks prior.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Can Azithromycin Cause False Positive Results For Methamphetamines?

Brief Answer: not known to cause false positive Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Neither of these medications is known to cause false positive reactions for drug use though they are a host of other medications that could be involved. If you are using any supplements or over the counter therapies then it is possible that one of these may be involved. This test is a screening test which means it can provide only an initial possible answer but nothing definitive. Your false positive result would need to followed up by GC-MS (gas chromatography- mass spectrometry). This is an accurate test that is used to clear up any false positive results. It can accurately determine if any drug is present or absent from a person's system. Summary: not known to cause false positive though they are other medications that may do so. I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions