amythist23

I seek any advice or information reguarding testing for marijuana:

My husband and I have been avid smokers for the last 3 years. I recently had a baby, 3 weeks ago, and even though i had stopped smoking, they did a drug test at the hospital and it came back positive. i don't understand, i thought weed left your system after a certain amount of time. Anyways, they called child protective services on us, and we had to agree to have our kids living at my grandma's until we have tests that come back negative.
well, we took a first test, and both my husband and my test came back negative. they said , though, that it was "diluted" and so CPS counts that as a positive. i'm not sure what it means when it comes back diluted. well, we went back again yesterday to take our tests and the results that came back today came back positive and they said that our numbers had actually gone up. how can this be if we both haven't smoked? please advice, i'm not a bad mother, we NEVER smoked or had our kids anywhere near marijuana. i want my kids back home. i appreciate your time and information.
thank you!!!!!!!

Buzzby

That's very odd. How long was it between when you last smoked and when you had the test for which they called in CPS?

A dilute result means that certain markers that they test in a urine sample fell below normal values. They check for creatinine levels and specific gravity. If you drink a great deal of water before the test you'll lower the concentration of THC metabolites but you'll also lower the creatinine level and the specific gravity.

The average daily smoker is clean after 30 days. This varies widely based on how much you smoke, the THC density of what you smoke, your metabolic rate, and the amount of body fat you carry.

If you could give us some more information we might be able to give you more specific advice.

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Candibar

Wow, that sucks!

I truly hope you the best in getting this resolved.

The only way I could see your numbers going up is if they are comparing the positive (dilluted) results, which were below the THC cutoff with the positive (THC) non-dilluted results that were above the cutoff. If this is the case, then "duh" comes to mind.

If they are comparing the hospital's THC level (3 weeks ago) with your current results, then they should be lower unless.....

- you were dilluted during the 1st (at hospital) and not the 3rd test.
- you smoked between the 1st and 3rd tests
- you burned some body fat just before the 3rd test that released a lot of metabolites.
- inaccuracy(ies) with one or all of the tests.

Again, best wishes on getting this resolved.

surReal

Just curious, why did the hospital drug test you? I have a few friends that had babies recently and none of them were tested.

Candibar

How do you "know" they were not tested?

I'm a 2nd year nursing student (RN) and the hospital I've done some rotations at certainly tests for drugs whether you are an inpatient in OB, neurology, medical, surgical, etc.

I have a friend who had a motorcycle accident and as an inpatient, they drug tested him. He was eventually released under his wife's care, but she was told that if he was "caught" using marijuana during this time, that she would be held accountable.

I sincerely doubt that your friends had babies without being tested for illicit drug use. They certainly check where I reside. Then again, perhaps you reside in another country, besides the USA. Many here pop for meth use and lose their children. It's really sad when the delivering mother is a prison inmate (longer than 9 months) who also pops positive for drug use.

Incidently, another reason I had to quit smoking was because of this -- them testing you as a patient. Being a nursing student, confidentiality would not ensure I was not BOOTED out of school. Nursing instructors from the local college work in every department at the hospital here, so I could be fk'd if I was to get injured and need treatment.

surReal

The reason I am under the impression that my friends were not tested (at least one of them) is because one would have tested positive for marijuana. She smoked occasionally throughout her pregnancy and I would expect that her test would have reflected that. But if she was tested they never said anything to her about it.