[Attexman]

I'm a disabled Iraq war vet I had a deadly infection in my thigh and groin while in theater. I'm not a drugie but now and then the pain in my hip gets bad.The VA won't hardly give out narcotics.Monday and Tuesday I had pain and took 3/ 5mg/500mg a total of 6 in 2 days hydrocordones now I have a urine test coming up on Monday so I will be 6 days out since taking my last does willI I pass "it is the only time in the last year I needed to take anything

[DrBill100]

I'm a disabled Iraq war vet I had a deadly infection in my thigh and groin while in theater. I'm not a drugie but now and then the pain in my hip gets bad.The VA won't hardly give out narcotics.Monday and tuesday I had pain and took 3/ 5mg/500mg a total of 6 in 2 days hydrocordones now I have a urine test coming up on monday so I will be 6 days out since taking my last does willI I pass "it is the only time in the last year I needed to take anything

Hydrocodone will not show up in a standard drug screen.

What is the purpose of the urine test?

[Attexman]

random at work

[DrBill100]

random at work

Most workplace testing is for illegal drugs (5 panel) and those will not detect hydrocodone. If you are in a regulated industry (DOT, Federal) that is the only test allowable.

Even if it was specifically tested for with the low dosage you note it would be eliminated within the 6 days

[Attexman]

Most workplace testing is for illegal drugs and those panels will not detect hydrocodone. If you are in a regulated industry (DOT, Federal) that is all that is allowable.

Even if it was specifically tested for with the low dosage you note it would be eliminated within the 6 days

I had a buddy got a positive on a couple of davocets after 3 days of stopping on this test

[DrBill100]

I had a buddy got a positive on a couple of davocets after 3 days of stopping on this test

Darvon/Darvocet (propoxyphene/dextropropoxyphene) may stay in a person's system for up to nine days. Believe it's been pulled from market now. It's still surprising that it was detected as it also required a special test.

Nonetheless, at 6 days, low dose, hydrocodone shouldn't show up even if tested for.

[Attexman]

Here is the spread sheet for what they will test for and levels
IUCSAT Drug-Testing Program will test for the following drugs at the established cut-off levels listed:
If the U.S. Department of Transportation expands its list of drugs for which testing is required
Or modifies or adjusts the test thresholds, IUCSAT or the “TPA”, reserves the right to begin testing
Immediately for those additional drugs and/or any modified testing levels. IUCSAT will notify all participating
Unions of any modified testing.
ALCOHOL TESTING
Drug Screening Levels
Ng/ml
Confirmation Levels
Ng/ml
Amphetamines 1000
Amphetamine 500
Methamphetamine 500
Cocaine Metabolites 300 150
PCP-Phencyclidine 25 25
Opiate Metabolites 2000
6-Acetylmorphine 10
Codeine & Morphine 2000
Extended Opiates (hydrocodone,
Hydromorphone, oxycodone, oxymorphone)
300 300
Marijuana Metabolites

[DrBill100]

That is a bit confusing. Showing 2 separate cutoffs for Amphetamine, likewise "Codeine & Morphine" are included under Opiate metabolites (both showing 2000). Can work through that but "extended opiates" is not a DOT classification nor is testing for "methamphetamine". Only amphetamine. It is also unusual to see Alcohol Testing (except "for cause") Was this something agreed to through collective bargaining, a union? Are you in a federally regulated industry or does the company just follow DOT guidelines. Just curious. DOT testing disallows testing for some of the substances you note:

[40.85 - What drugs do laboratories test for

As a laboratory, you must test for the following five drugs or classes of drugs in a DOT drug test. You must not test "DOT specimens" for any other drugs.]

However, based on these categories, with emphasis on the extended opiates, if hydrocodone were still in your system it could be detected at 300 ng sometimes. However, since you do not regularly take hydrocodone I don't believe you have any concerns at the 6 day time interval.

ADDED: I looked up the most recent amendments to DOT testing and it does not deviate from the 5 basic drugs. Therefore there is no regulated test that includes hydrocodone (extended opiates) and therefore no established cutoff. Same is true for methamphetamine. Office of the Secretary, DOT, p. 9, effective 10-1-2010.

That further confuses me about the inter-mixture of DOT regs with this test. The governing rules and regulations (49 CFR Part 40) can be found here.>LINK

[Attexman]

This is for the construction trades but they use the same standards I'm sure all will be fine And thanks for the info Doc.