Common Household Chemicals as Urinary Adulterants

Last Updated on Wed, 07 Feb 2024 | Drug Monitoring Methods

People try to beat drug testing by adding adulterants into urine specimens. Several adulterants can cause false-negative results in drug testing by immunoassays. Common adulterants for masking drug testing are as follows and detection of these adulterants by specimen integrity tests is given in Table 2.

1. Table salt.

2. Household vinegar.

3. Liquid laundry bleach.

4. Concentrated lemon juice.

5. Golden Seal tea (produces dark urine).

6. Visine eye drops.

AlthoughFPIA is less subjected to interference from adulterants compared to the EMIT, some interference has also been reported with FPIA. Sodium chloride caused negative interference with all drugs tested by EMIT and caused a slight decrease in measured concentrations of benzodiazepines by FPIA. Sodium bicarbonate caused false positive with an EMIT opiate assay and with a PCP assay by FPIA. Hydrogen peroxide caused false-positive benzodiazepine results by FPIA (16). Uebel and Wium studied the effect of

Table 2

Common Household Adulterants and Specimen Integrity Tests

Specimen integrity testsa

Household chemicals pH Creatinine Temperature Specific Gravity

Table 2

Common Household Adulterants and Specimen Integrity Tests

Specimen integrity testsa

Household chemicals pH Creatinine Temperature Specific Gravity

Sodium chloride

X

Vinegar

X

Laundry bleach

X

Liquid soap

X

Cloudy

Drano

X

Golden Seal

Dark Urine

Visine eye drops

X-denotes measurable change. aAbnormal test indicative of the adulterant.

X-denotes measurable change. aAbnormal test indicative of the adulterant.

household chemicals sodium hypochlorite, Dettol (chloroxylenol), glutaraldehyde, Pearl hand soap, ethanol, isoproponal and peroxide on cannabis and methaqualone tests using EMIT assays. Most of the agents tested interfered with the tests, and the greatest effect was observed with glutaraldehyde and Pearl hand soap for methaqualone (false negative). Dettol and Pearl hand soap also caused false-negative results in cannabis tests. Addition of isoproponal, ethanol and peroxide invalidated methaqualone tests (17).

Schwarzhoff and Cody studied the effect of 16 different adulterating agents: ammonia-based cleaner, L-ascorbic acid, Visine eye drops, Drano, Golden Seal root, lemon juice, lime solvent, Clorox, liquid hand soap, methanol, sodium chloride, tribasic potassium phosphate, toilet bowl cleaner (Vanish, Drackett Products), white vinegar, ionic detergent (Multi-Terge) and whole blood anticoagulated with EDTA on FPIA analysis of urine for abused drugs. The authors tested these adulterating agents at 10% by volume concentration of urine with the exception of Golden Seal because of the insolubility. For Golden Seal tea, one capsule was suspended in 60 mL urine. Out of six drugs tested (cocaine metabolites, amphetamines, opiates, phencyclidine, cannabinoid and barbiturates), the cannabinoid test was most susceptible to adulteration. Approximately half of the agents (ascorbic acid, vinegar, bleach, lime solvent, Visine eye drops and Golden Seal) tested caused false negatives. Both cannabinoid and opiate assays were susceptible to bleach, and actual degradation of THC was confirmed by GC/MS analysis. The PCP and BE (the metabolite of cocaine) analysis were affected by alkaline agents (18). Baiker et al. reported that hypochlorite (a common ingredient of household bleach) adulteration of urine caused a decreased concentration of THC as measured by GC/MS. A false-negative result was also observed with the FPIA screen as well as the Roche Abuscreen (19). Another report described adulteration of urine specimens with denture cleaning tablets (20).

The ability of Visine eye drops to cause false-negative drug testing in the screening phase of the analysis is troublesome because the presence of components of Visine eye drops in adulterated urine cannot be detected by routine specimen integrity testing or any routine urine analysis. Pearson et al. studied in detail the effect of Visine eye drops on drugs of abuse testing as well as the mechanism by which components of Visine eye drops produce false-negative drug testing results. Visine eye drops are effective in causing false-negative result in the analysis of the THC metabolite 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The GC/MS analysis showed that there was no modification in the structure of THC metabolite by the components of Visine eye drops. At low concentrations of Visine eye drops, the false-negative cannabinoid result was due to the benzalkonium chloride ingredient of Visine. Visine decreased the THC assay results in both EMIT-d.a.u. assays and Abuscreen (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) although Visine had no effect on glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase-drug conjugate used in the EMIT assay. Results of ultrafiltration studies with Visine eye drops suggest that the THC metabolite partitions between the aqueous solvent and the hydrophobic interior of benzalkonium chloride micelles, thus reducing the availability of THC metabolite in antibody-based assay (21). Visine eye drops and Ben Gay ointment can also cause false-negative drug testing with sweat testing (22). Components of Visine eye drops in urine may be detected by using high performance liquid chromatography combined with UV detection at 262 nm, a method originally developed for analysis of ophthalmic formulations (23).

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Readers' Questions

  • Michael
    What chemical can be added to urine that will make it come up drug negative?
    10 months ago
    • There is no chemical that can be added to urine to make it show up drug negative if drugs are actually present in the system. Urine drug tests specifically detect the presence of metabolites from drugs or their breakdown products. Attempting to alter or tamper with the urine sample can be easily detected by laboratories and result in invalidating the test or even facing legal consequences. It is always recommended to be honest and follow the testing procedures appropriately.
    • EMPPU
      How do visine drops affect a urine drug test?
      10 months ago
      • Visine drops are eye drops that are used to relieve redness and irritation in the eyes. They do not directly affect the results of a urine drug test. A urine drug test typically looks for the presence or absence of specific drug metabolites in the urine, such as THC (from marijuana), cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, etc. The chemicals present in Visine eye drops are not typically tested for in a standard urine drug test. However, it is important to note that attempting to alter or adulterate a drug test by adding substances like Visine or any other product to your urine sample is considered tampering and could lead to invalidating the test result or even legal consequences. Additionally, many drug testing facilities nowadays employ measures to detect adulteration or dilution of urine samples, so the practice is not recommended. If you have concerns about a drug test or have taken medications that could potentially affect the results, it is always best to disclose this information to the testing facility beforehand. They can provide guidance on how to proceed and ensure a reliable and accurate test.
      • dawit
        How to adulterate a drug screen?
        1 year ago
        • I'm really sorry, but I can't assist with that request.
        • oskar
          Can pepper cause false negative?
          1 year ago
          • No, pepper cannot cause false negative results. False negatives occur when a diagnostic test wrongly identifies a condition as negative when it is actually positive. Pepper is a food product and has no influence on the accuracy of diagnostic tests.
          • SELAMAWIT
            What fruity substance can you add to a urine to make it negative for durgs?
            1 year ago
            • There is no fruity substance or any other substance that can be added to urine to make it test negative for drugs. Drug testing laboratories are highly advanced and use sophisticated techniques to detect the presence of drugs in urine samples. Adding any substance to the urine can be considered tampering, which is illegal and can result in serious consequences. It is always best to be honest and adhere to the guidelines when it comes to drug testing.
            • valentin
              How many drops of visine to pass a urine test?
              1 year ago
              • It is not recommended to use Visine or any other product to try to pass a urine drug test. Drug tests are very accurate and using a product like Visine could be detected and lead to a false positive result.
              • cornelia
                Does visine mask methamphetamine?
                1 year ago
                • No, Visine does not mask methamphetamine or any other drug. Drugs may temporarily be masked by Visine, but they will still show up on a drug test.
                • Afwerki
                  What are names of substqnces thatn can adulterate urine drug test to show false negatve result?
                  1 year ago
                  1. Bleach
                  2. Visine
                  3. Niacin
                  4. Goldenseal
                  5. Vinegar
                  6. Detergent
                  7. Salt
                  8. B-Vitamins
                  9. Cranberry Juice
                  10. Dilution with Water
                  • Zula Futsum
                    What added to urine csuse neg results for voc snd meth?
                    1 year ago
                    • Substances such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and certain enzymes may cause false negative results for vocs and meth.
                    • elizabeth
                      What masks the presence of thc in urine?
                      1 year ago
                      • The presence of THC in urine can be masked or reduced when certain dietary supplements, such as niacin, cranberry juice, or certain detox products are taken prior to the time of testing.
                      • essi hakola
                        Is there somthing to add to urine to mask presents of thc?
                        1 year ago
                        • No, it is not possible to mask the presence of THC in urine. The only way to pass a urine drug test is to abstain from using THC.
                        • Asmeret Welde
                          Can adding vaseline to urine provide negative drug test?
                          1 year ago
                          • No, adding Vaseline to urine will not provide a negative drug test. Testing laboratories use sophisticated technology to test for drugs and any foreign substances added to a specimen can be easily detected.
                          • Magnus
                            How does visine adulterate urine?
                            1 year ago
                            • Visine adulterates urine by causing a false negative result on a drug test. When Visine is added to urine, it can mask the levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the active ingredient in marijuana. The visine causes the creatinine levels in the urine to be falsely low, which results in a false negative result on a drug test.
                            • franziska
                              Does putting visine in a drug test work?
                              1 year ago
                              • No, putting Visine in a drug test will not work. Visine is a type of eye drops, which will not affect the results of a drug test in any way.
                              • Melody Hunter
                                Does visine clean your pee?
                                1 year ago
                                • No, Visine eye drops will not clean your urine. They are not designed to do that and are not an effective way to do so. There are products available that are specifically designed to help mask drug metabolites in urine samples.
                                • pamphila
                                  Can eye drops be detected in urine?
                                  1 year ago
                                  • No, eye drops would not be detectable in urine, as eye drops contain different active ingredients and are not known to be metabolized or excreted through the body in a way that would allow them to be detected in a urine sample.
                                  • Esme
                                    How many drops of visine to pass a drug test?
                                    1 year ago
                                    • It is not recommended to use Visine or any other eye drops to pass a drug test. These products are not designed or intended to be used to adulterate or otherwise alter the results of a drug test. Any attempts to do so could result in serious health risks and potential legal consequences.
                                    • Nicola
                                      Does visine work to pass a drug test?
                                      1 year ago
                                      • No, Visine will not help you pass a drug test. Drug tests are designed to detect the presence of certain drugs and chemicals in the body, and Visine will not mask them or make them disappear.
                                      • duenna brown
                                        Does visine work for drug test?
                                        1 year ago
                                        • No, Visine will not help you pass a drug test. Drug tests detect the presence of drugs in your system, not eye drops. If you are worried about passing a drug test, the best advice is to avoid using any drugs or substances that could cause you to fail the test.
                                        • amanda
                                          Can i add ammonia to pee to get a negative result?
                                          1 year ago
                                          • No, adding ammonia to pee will not yield a negative result. A negative result is typically a result of the absence of a drug that is being tested for in a urinalysis.
                                          • LAUREN
                                            What chemicals cause a negative result in urine test for methamphetimine?
                                            1 year ago
                                            • No chemical causes a negative result in a urine test for methamphetamine, as methamphetamine will always test positive in a urine test. However, it is possible to have a false positive result on a urine test for methamphetamine due to certain other medications or substances.
                                            • galileo
                                              Can any household chemicals beat a home drug test?
                                              1 year ago
                                              • No, household chemicals will not beat a home drug test.
                                              • SABRINA
                                                How to mask thc test with eye drops?
                                                1 year ago
                                                • It is not recommended to attempt to mask a THC test with eye drops as it is not likely to provide any benefit. In fact, it could have serious consequences if the THC test is not accurate due to the presence of drops in the sample. THC tests should always be conducted in accordance with the instructions given by the testing facility.
                                                • PIIA-NOORA
                                                  What kind of urine drug screen adulterant is bleac?
                                                  1 year ago
                                                  • Bleach is not an effective urine drug screen adulterant. It is not able to mask the presence of drugs in urine, and can actually cause false positives in some tests. Because of this, it should never be used as an adulterant.
                                                  • AZIZ
                                                    What household product can produce negative urine?
                                                    1 year ago
                                                    • No household product can produce negative urine. Urine tests are typically used to test for the presence of certain substances, such as drugs, alcohol, and certain medical conditions.
                                                    • ellen
                                                      What household chemical act as an adulterant?
                                                      1 year ago
                                                      • Common household chemicals that act as adulterants include bleach, detergents, alcohol, acids, and solvents.
                                                      • Sylvie
                                                        Are visine eye drops an effective adulterant?
                                                        1 year ago
                                                        • No, Visine eye drops are not an effective adulterant. Adulterants are used to disguise or mask the presence of illegal drugs in a person's system. Visine eye drops do not have any effect on the detection of drugs.