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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Tonic Water Shoe False Positive For Cocaine?

yes hello how you doing I m 28 years old and I ve been drinking tonic water for about 3 months and I ve just recently tested positive for cocaine and I m not a user and I asks a nurse she said this to be the reason but I m on here to be very sure what s going on.. Im very lost and wanted this job badly!!
Tue, 26 May 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,

I am sorry you are having this experience! The answer to your question is:
when urine drug screens are done by the immunoassay method (there are various different methods it can be done), yes tonic water (quinidine water) can cause a false positive test for cocaine.

The University of Illinois College of Pharmacy has the following information sheet about this. Please see Table 3 which shows this.

http://dig.pharm.uic.edu/faq/2011/Feb/faq1.aspx

There are better, more accurate tests for drug screens, but these are likely more expensive and perhaps the employer doesn't want to use these because of cost.

Perhaps you can ask for the sample to be run using a more accurate screening test, such as GC-MS? At any rate, I would show the employer the information article.

Good luck to you. I hope this information helps and you can get this straightened out!
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Can Tonic Water Shoe False Positive For Cocaine?

Hello and welcome to HCM, I am sorry you are having this experience! The answer to your question is: when urine drug screens are done by the immunoassay method (there are various different methods it can be done), yes tonic water (quinidine water) can cause a false positive test for cocaine. The University of Illinois College of Pharmacy has the following information sheet about this. Please see Table 3 which shows this. http://dig.pharm.uic.edu/faq/2011/Feb/faq1.aspx There are better, more accurate tests for drug screens, but these are likely more expensive and perhaps the employer doesn t want to use these because of cost. Perhaps you can ask for the sample to be run using a more accurate screening test, such as GC-MS? At any rate, I would show the employer the information article. Good luck to you. I hope this information helps and you can get this straightened out!