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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Will The Traces Of Chemotherapy Appear In Drug Test?

My husband is on chemotherapy (I.V). He has a drug screen soon for new employment. Does this need to be revealed prior to the test. We are concerned that the drugs will show in the test and reveal more than we want to about his chemo right now. He is also on Effexor, 37.5 mg/daily. Thanks
Mon, 1 Jun 2020
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,

Yeah, might, entirely by accident. So, it is 90 to 99% likely that NO, it won't. Drug screens are a dip stick to test only for drugs of abuse. My only patient likely to get chemo MIGHT show up on it.

He has lymphoma. His blood proteins from the lymphoma might go into the urine, thicken it and cause it to falsely bind to everything on the dipstick. UNLIKELY.

More likely is that anti-depressants cross reacts with cocaine (*FALSE POSITIVE*) and then the urine is looked at very carefully to confirm the cocaine--which will NOT be found, but then the chemotherapy might be. It just is really unlikely.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr. Matt Wachsman
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Will The Traces Of Chemotherapy Appear In Drug Test?

Hello, Yeah, might, entirely by accident. So, it is 90 to 99% likely that NO, it won t. Drug screens are a dip stick to test only for drugs of abuse. My only patient likely to get chemo MIGHT show up on it. He has lymphoma. His blood proteins from the lymphoma might go into the urine, thicken it and cause it to falsely bind to everything on the dipstick. UNLIKELY. More likely is that anti-depressants cross reacts with cocaine (*FALSE POSITIVE*) and then the urine is looked at very carefully to confirm the cocaine--which will NOT be found, but then the chemotherapy might be. It just is really unlikely. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr. Matt Wachsman