I was tested for narcotics and perscription pain killers. I have had Hydrocodon and Tramodol perscribed in the last year. The test was supposed to go back 6 months. In that time I had taken the Hydrocodon 5 and 6 months ago and the tramadol more recently. Probably 4 months ago to just a month ago. The test did not pick up any of the Hydrocodon but did pick up the tramadol. The problem is that it showed a high level was taken. The amount was 5 times the normal usage and I didn't even have enough perscribed to me to have taken that much.
I didn't take that much and the people who tested can't tell me anything other than the amount is accurate and the timeline is an estimate of 6 months. I am trying to determin if there is a false reading for the tramadol because of the Hydrocodon or if there is something else that could have cause this high amount to be detected. A false reading from some other medication etc.

Do you have a printout of the test? Would need a lot more info.

If the test was confirmed, and it must have been in order to make a quantitative finding, then it is not a false positive but a true positive but quantitatively erroneous. That's a tough one. It probably is not a result of cross- or inter-reaction between drugs.

Quantitative errors can occur if the instrument is not properly calibrated or maintained. Hard to prove but if you have the report could see where your test was performed in relation to others, i.e. 3, 7, 36 etc. instrument used, then could tell you where to look and what to request.

The test was for quantity but showed it to be 5 times higher than normal. The doctor who did the test also missed the Hydrocodon I took and I read something about the low levels of the binders needed to detect the tramadol and I thought that he may have mistaken the Hydrocodon for tramodol.

I can't understand why this quantity showed so high! They said it was 11,698 Picograms per mil of hair. They took 20 mil of leg hair. I was burned 3 years ago and skin grafted. Could this have an effect?

I don't have a copy yet. This was reported to me by the testing Dr.'s office this evening. I took the test to show the court I was not taking any other drugs except for what I was perscribed by the doctors and now this may cause some problems.

Why leg hair? That makes a big difference! Does this doctor regularly do hair drug testing?

I also don't see how testing leg hair converts to a period of 6 months.

Get an actual copy of the report and we can probably figure this out.

He does do hair tests. I also found out he has made some big mistakes before.

He said the leg hair was for an average time of 6 to 8 months. Than he also said it could be for one week to 12 months. He said the time was an estimate and not as acurate as the quantity.

He said he tested 20 millograms of hair. This was from my legs and he said it was slower growing and would work for a longer period. Can he put a timeling to the amount like that? How far back can a test for this go back using leg hair? I also don't understand why nothing showed up in the blood or urin he took and why he completely missed the Hydrocodon.

I'll try to see if I can get a proper report from him asap. I hope I can get it tomorrow because I have to answer for this in the morning! This idiot could ruin my life!

Thanks for the input

It certainly does grow slower. In order to properly assess any quantity found one must know not only the growth rate, but also the incorporation rate of the specific drug into hair in general and into your hair in particular. Averages don't get it. The usual time for non-head hair is assumed to be 1 year as opposed to head hair at 3 months (1-/1/2") Drug concentration would therefore be assumed to be 4X that as head hair but no one I know attempts to make that connection. Are you in the US?

Hair is almost never used to back extrapolate amount of drug consumed only to identify that it was consumed.

Im in SC.

I guess that is why this finding is wrong. He wrote a report stating this high amount and I can't understand how he could come up with this to begin with unless he did it wrong or couldn't do it in the first place. The problem is he has already given this information to people and its going to be used against me! I need a way to discredit him or show the in accuracy of his findigs.

I also take an HGH vitamin called HEXAGHEN. Could that do anything to the hair test? It is supposed to aid in human growth hormone production.

He used my leg hair and my legs were burned in 08'. Skin grafting etc. I think he doesn't know what he is doing and he is the only one in South Carolina that we know of to do this test. What I need is a true expert and the report from his findings. I don't know who else to take it to. DrBill seems to be right on the point of it being used wrong to begin with.

I also take an HGH vitamin called HEXAGHEN. Could that do anything to the hair test? It is supposed to aid in human growth hormone production.

One of the main reasons the report is needed is to see which lab did the report. The fact that the reading is in pico-gram means it required a very sophisticated, large and expensive instrument. Only the larger labs have them. Not found in doctor's offices etc.

In a hair test the source of the hair must also be noted on the form, and there should be a chain of custody form.

The information you have provided is inconsistent with 1) the use and limitation of hair drug testing and 2) beyond the range of any scientific data that I can locate.

Both Tramadol and Hydrocodone are what I call wild-card drugs. Either one might cause initial false positives. But that is the point of the confirmatory test (GC/MS/MS) that analyzes in pg. There is never a false positive as it uses a spectrogram that precisely identifies each drug. Therefore there should not be any interference from other drugs. It provides a molecular fingerprint of the drug.

These instruments are near 100% in sensitivity. Unfortunately the people who operate them are not. The machine must be precisely calibrated and cleaned after each run to prevent "carry over".

But I suspect this situation involves something more overt, providing the information thus far provided is accurate. Most irregular.

The first step is to get the print out. Also, request chain of custody form.

How much did this test cost you?

I got a copy of the test results today. I'll figure out how to post it later. Judge didn't even believe in its accuracy. He has had this guy in court before and has had issues with him as well.

He charged me $350.00. I have to get a digital copy to post it.

I got a copy of the test results today. I'll figure out how to post it later. Judge didn't even believe in its accuracy. He has had this guy in court before and has had issues with him as well.

Does that mean that nothing will come of it? Hope so

Nonetheless would love to see a complete copy of this just to see what occurred and what he was looking to demonstrate.

Dr. Bill I would like you to see it and see if you can help me figure out what he did wrong. I do have to go and see other doctors and specialists now to try and clarify this for the court.

Does that mean that nothing will come of it? Hope so

Nonetheless would love to see a complete copy of this just to see what occurred and what he was looking to demonstrate.

I will have a copy Monday and will get back with you. I now have to spend more money and time away from work to do other tests etc. because of this and I need to do what I can to discredit this guy. He said he couldn't be accurate with any timeline to quantify an amount over a period yet he gave an affidavit to the court stating a high amount was found for the six months he tested! I was only perscribed 180 of the 50mil. Tramodol during this time and I didn't even take it all! I still have some left! He also charged me 350.00 and wanted 300.00 more to explain his findings! He is a crook!

Your help has been more than appreciated.

Forgot to mention that I didn't even get an actual copy of the lab report. All we had was his report so I had to request all the information he had be sent to my lawyer!

Provide me with his name by private message and I will check his license and accreditation. If the lab he operates has a separate ID provide that as well. That will also assist in contacting the appropriate agencies in order to get direct answers.

Does his report show his medical license and does he note that he is a Medical Review Officer, MRO?

If you don't have that just get me his full name, city and state and I'll run the MRO index.

I can't figure out how to pm you. For some reason the site will not let me. I'll keep trying. See if you can send me one.

I can't figure out how to pm you. For some reason the site will not let me. I'll keep trying. See if you can send me one.

See if it will allow an email. I forwarded you one. Have no idea how this works

Dr. Bill
We're you able to look over the report and the other info I was able to get to you?

Dr. Bill
We're you able to look over the report and the other info I was able to get to you?

Yes I received the documents.

First I want to point out that the reason for privately providing was to protect your identity as well as making certain that the testing agent was not wrongfully accused.

The news article from The Post & Courier (http://truthinjustice.org/drug-screener.htm) (Charlotte, SC) has already exposed his drug testing credentials.

As relates to the documents provided:

1. These are not the laboratory forms. They are his forms and require corroboration by the laboratory. Furthermore, the results as shown therein are initial screening only with no record of a confirmation test even for the single positive noted.
2. These forms contain several obvious errors, most notably time(s) of test(s).
3. His affidavit states that you tested positive by GC/MS/MS in confirmation of the Positive noted on his form. There is nothing to support that claim.
4. I ran his name through the MRO registries and he is not an MRO. In fact he lacks the basic qualification. He is not a medical doctor and is not licensed to practice medicine.
5. I also checked his claim of being a Forensic Toxicologist. He is not accredited through any of the current professional bodies.

There is no need to further expand on those items as they are fully and completed addressed in the article noted above.

His statement that the amount of Tramadol found in your leg hair was higher than it should be is without scientific support.

Nonetheless you are now placed in the position of disproving his reckless statements.

Welcome to the wonderful world of unregulated commercial drug testing.

Finally, I ran a search on the other doctor that you mentioned and she is a medical doctor and certified MRO. She should be able to clear this up in short order. Hope that works out well for you.

Reference

G. Smith, Questions surround methods, credentials of drug screener (http://truthinjustice.org/drug-screener.htm), Post & Courier, Charlotte, SC, Sun, Jul 30, 2006