Now, I realize how this story sounds, which is why I'm hesitating on saying or doing anything further about it in real life, or even who I could contact about it.
However, I'm so anxious about it that I can't sleep - so I hope writing it down here will help relax me, like a message in a bottle that never sends and letting it go.
Regardless, here goes - bear with the somewhat lengthy true story.
Then my recruiter called me, stating said they'd never received anything at all verifying I'd ever taken a test. I told her I most certainly did, I have the bruise on my arm from the needle stick.
After investigating, the manager discovered that instead of administering a urine drug test, the lab worker had erroneously acted an old lab order for a blood test for hormone levels, from my OB/GYN (that had actually already been done in the doctor's office and sent to the main Quest labs, in April)!
The manager apologized profusely and said though it would've helped if I'd actually printed up the paper and brought it in (true, that's on me), she also said the lab worker should've asked why I was there, to confirm what was clearly printed out on my check-in sheet, that I was there for a drug test - or at the very least listened to me trying to tell her why I was there.
So the manager wrote an apology note for the misunderstanding to take to my employer, which also included her phone number, as well as assurance that the blood test was canceled and I would receive no charge, and then administered the correct test, a urine test, herself.
I sent a screen shot of the manager's note to my prospective employer, and then the test was, of course, negative - and I was hired.
Since the situation was rectified, I wasn't interested in reporting the problem to anyone, we all make mistakes, right?
Oh, but wait - there's more.
Two weeks into the job - which was a great job, I enjoyed it thoroughly, great people - I surprisingly received an offer for the much more lucrative job that I thought I'd been passed over for.
I offered to pay out of pocket for any test or tests that I could take that same day to prove I'm not on drugs, while it was still within the timeframe allowed, but they said to wait and see how the hair sample comes back, if they even get it, rather than a DNA/paternity test, which was the only thing she admittedly knew how to do, and that will be 5 business days from when I took the test last Wednesday - AND - there was no reassurance given that I will get another chance despite their own admitted problems and apologies I have screen shots of!
Now, I have taken these drug tests many times before, working in healthcare for 27 years, and of course they have all been negative, and I have never experienced anything like this!
I mean, I have had so much crazy sh*t happen in my life that I'm not sure that I believe me anymore lol.
Hell, if I heard someone else tell this story, I probably wouldn't believe them either lol.
Well, I do have proof - but has that ever mattered?
I mean, people aren't really concerned, these days, about proof and truth, are they?
They prefer to go with what they already want to believe.
Well, I do have proof - but has that ever mattered?
I mean, people aren't really concerned, these days, about proof and truth, are they?
They prefer to go with what they already want to believe.
Regardless, here goes - bear with the somewhat lengthy true story.
So as mentioned previously, the job I've had for the last 5 years as a contractor has dwindled down to almost no work for the last year. I hung in there as long as I could, because I love my boss dearly - and I loved the work, it was the most interesting I'd ever done - but there's just little to no work, so I started looking elsewhere, while still picking up for her if any work came in.
Believe me, she's been biting her own nails off for the last year, too. I think we both thought this was it - the job we'd retire on.
Thus, for the past few months, I've been trying to find something else that isn't contract work - no more contract work, regular pay, no more self-employment tax, maybe even benefits again. No more nail-biting, right?
Wrong!
But first, before I tell this story, I need to be very clear that I have never received a positive drug-screen result, and I still haven't, despite these lab problems - that isn't the issue.
That is because I don't use drugs and have never used drugs. In fact, I don't even like to use pharmaceuticals, because they scare me - I'm very sensitive to medication and if I do ever have to take any, I'm on the lowest possible dose.
Anyway, about 4 weeks ago, I accepted a job position, after thinking I'd been passed over for a different, more lucrative job.
This job used a third-party organization who did a background check (which was of course clear) and they also scheduled my drug-screen appointment at Quest Diagnostics.
When I arrived for my appointment, I checked "drug screen" on the check-in digital kiosk as my reason for visit (the local Quest office has no receptionist), and I also told the lab worker who took me back that I was there for a drug screen for (Name of Company), who scheduled this appointment.
She told me the only lab order she had in the system was for a blood test. I told her the email they'd sent me was for a urine test, but I didn't bring the email. I figured it wasn't necessary, since the third-party company for my employer scheduled the appointment.
I asked her if she was sure about that, because I would be surprised that the new employer would go to the expense of a blood test for a new hire, and she said that was the order in the system for me, a blood test.
I figured if I argued too much, it would seem like I didn't want to drug-test, right?
Thus, I let her draw my blood.
When I arrived for my appointment, I checked "drug screen" on the check-in digital kiosk as my reason for visit (the local Quest office has no receptionist), and I also told the lab worker who took me back that I was there for a drug screen for (Name of Company), who scheduled this appointment.
She told me the only lab order she had in the system was for a blood test. I told her the email they'd sent me was for a urine test, but I didn't bring the email. I figured it wasn't necessary, since the third-party company for my employer scheduled the appointment.
I asked her if she was sure about that, because I would be surprised that the new employer would go to the expense of a blood test for a new hire, and she said that was the order in the system for me, a blood test.
I figured if I argued too much, it would seem like I didn't want to drug-test, right?
Thus, I let her draw my blood.
Then my recruiter called me, stating said they'd never received anything at all verifying I'd ever taken a test. I told her I most certainly did, I have the bruise on my arm from the needle stick.
She asked me why that would be, since they'd ordered a urine test?
I told her that that's what I said, but the lab worker insisted she'd ordered a blood test.
So because there is no way to contact the local lab office by phone, only a 1-800 number for Quest, I returned in person to the lab office. The lab worker that had taken the test became very defensive and said "You told me you were here for a blood test to check your hormones!'
I thought to myself ... "Right. Because of course, I would tell you I wanted my hormone levels checked as my primary concern, though I only have 48 hours to get a drug screen for a job."
But rest assured, I did NOT say that.
So because there is no way to contact the local lab office by phone, only a 1-800 number for Quest, I returned in person to the lab office. The lab worker that had taken the test became very defensive and said "You told me you were here for a blood test to check your hormones!'
I thought to myself ... "Right. Because of course, I would tell you I wanted my hormone levels checked as my primary concern, though I only have 48 hours to get a drug screen for a job."
But rest assured, I did NOT say that.
In fact, I was literally shaking, because I hate to stand up for myself. I can stand up and mouth off on behalf of others, or if the issue is bigger than just me, but when it's me, I shake.
So luckily, the manager heard her yelling and came in the room, just as I asked her if there was anyone who could mediate.
After investigating, the manager discovered that instead of administering a urine drug test, the lab worker had erroneously acted an old lab order for a blood test for hormone levels, from my OB/GYN (that had actually already been done in the doctor's office and sent to the main Quest labs, in April)!
The manager apologized profusely and said though it would've helped if I'd actually printed up the paper and brought it in (true, that's on me), she also said the lab worker should've asked why I was there, to confirm what was clearly printed out on my check-in sheet, that I was there for a drug test - or at the very least listened to me trying to tell her why I was there.
So the manager wrote an apology note for the misunderstanding to take to my employer, which also included her phone number, as well as assurance that the blood test was canceled and I would receive no charge, and then administered the correct test, a urine test, herself.
I sent a screen shot of the manager's note to my prospective employer, and then the test was, of course, negative - and I was hired.
Since the situation was rectified, I wasn't interested in reporting the problem to anyone, we all make mistakes, right?
Oh, but wait - there's more.
Two weeks into the job - which was a great job, I enjoyed it thoroughly, great people - I surprisingly received an offer for the much more lucrative job that I thought I'd been passed over for.
Unfortunately, I was again sent to this same lab for a drug test by a third party company.
I was a bit nervous after prior experience, but I thought lightning wouldn't strike twice and they'd be sure to get it right, this time, right?
Wrong!
This time, I brought in my printout stating a urine test. Despite only drinking an 8-ounce glass of water an hour before the test, just to ensure that I could pee on demand, the test came back as "negative-dilute," and the company asked me to take another test, which would be my second and only chance.
In addition to this, on that same day, I received a call from my OB/GYN's office, confused about why I'd had the test done twice, when she'd already done one, and I had to explain. And on top of THAT, I discovered I'd been billed full charge, despite the manager saying she'd cancel it all!
Then, I was told by the new company that I would receive a second chance, but this time, I would receive a hair-follicle test.
I requested a lab change, since I'd had such a poor experience at Quest (who seemed short-staffed)., so I went to LabCorp inside Walgreens.
However, when I arrived, the lab worker said she had never done hair-follicle drug tests, only DNA/paternity hair-follicle tests, and she had not been trained - and she was the only one working!
I thought to myself ...
I was a bit nervous after prior experience, but I thought lightning wouldn't strike twice and they'd be sure to get it right, this time, right?
Wrong!
This time, I brought in my printout stating a urine test. Despite only drinking an 8-ounce glass of water an hour before the test, just to ensure that I could pee on demand, the test came back as "negative-dilute," and the company asked me to take another test, which would be my second and only chance.
In addition to this, on that same day, I received a call from my OB/GYN's office, confused about why I'd had the test done twice, when she'd already done one, and I had to explain. And on top of THAT, I discovered I'd been billed full charge, despite the manager saying she'd cancel it all!
Then, I was told by the new company that I would receive a second chance, but this time, I would receive a hair-follicle test.
I requested a lab change, since I'd had such a poor experience at Quest (who seemed short-staffed)., so I went to LabCorp inside Walgreens.
However, when I arrived, the lab worker said she had never done hair-follicle drug tests, only DNA/paternity hair-follicle tests, and she had not been trained - and she was the only one working!
I thought to myself ...
Are you freaking kidding me with this sh*t?
And these companies depend on you people for their test results for jobs?
But if I say anything, it will look like I'm balking at getting a drug test, when they already think I drank too much water to dilute my urine sample!
But again, of course, I didn't say any of that.
But what I DID do is immediately write my employer, while still sitting in the lab, asking them to please advise me what to do now.
In the meantime, the lab worker viewed my authorization code and called her corporate office, who told her it WAS authorized and they DO perform them, and just to perform it the same way she does DNA/paternity tests.
I didn't hear back from my prospective employer until hours after I'd left, because the onboarding HR department is in India.
In the meantime, the lab worker viewed my authorization code and called her corporate office, who told her it WAS authorized and they DO perform them, and just to perform it the same way she does DNA/paternity tests.
I didn't hear back from my prospective employer until hours after I'd left, because the onboarding HR department is in India.
They said this was my one-and-only second chance, despite the lab attendant saying she hadn't performed them before and hadn't been trained!
(I think they didn't believe me.)
Also, I have called a clinic who does these tests, but they have an actual MD and nurse on staff as oversight.
I asked them how a "negative-dilute" result even happens. They said I would've had to drink 1 to 2 L of water beforehand, which of course, I didn't do.
I then asked about the correct protocol for a hair-follicle test, and they informed me of 4 steps - only 2 of which the admittedly untrained lab worker followed - she wore no gloves and took a sample from my already-thinning crown, rather than the scalp near the neck - so now I have a huge, visible bald spot!
(I think they didn't believe me.)
Also, I have called a clinic who does these tests, but they have an actual MD and nurse on staff as oversight.
I asked them how a "negative-dilute" result even happens. They said I would've had to drink 1 to 2 L of water beforehand, which of course, I didn't do.
I then asked about the correct protocol for a hair-follicle test, and they informed me of 4 steps - only 2 of which the admittedly untrained lab worker followed - she wore no gloves and took a sample from my already-thinning crown, rather than the scalp near the neck - so now I have a huge, visible bald spot!
Thus, I am terrified that the second-chance sample will be inconclusive or inadequate testing sample, because she admittedly didn't know how to perform it ... and to be honest, I'm a little mad, at this point, too.
Because I have already given notice and left the other job (but am welcome back in 30 days), which I never would've done, if I'd ever thought there would be any problem with drug tests!
Because I have already given notice and left the other job (but am welcome back in 30 days), which I never would've done, if I'd ever thought there would be any problem with drug tests!
That was also before I realized it would be at the very same lab with the admitted order mix-up 6 weeks ago OR that a second lab admittedly was not trained on the hair-follicle test!
Thus, if the sample she took isn't adequate, I'm out of a job - AND - I have a huge bald visible bald spot now!
Thus, if the sample she took isn't adequate, I'm out of a job - AND - I have a huge bald visible bald spot now!
But I feel like if I say another word about this to my prospective company, they'll just write me off as some druggie trying to hide it, rather than the truth :(.
I offered to pay out of pocket for any test or tests that I could take that same day to prove I'm not on drugs, while it was still within the timeframe allowed, but they said to wait and see how the hair sample comes back, if they even get it, rather than a DNA/paternity test, which was the only thing she admittedly knew how to do, and that will be 5 business days from when I took the test last Wednesday - AND - there was no reassurance given that I will get another chance despite their own admitted problems and apologies I have screen shots of!
Now, I have taken these drug tests many times before, working in healthcare for 27 years, and of course they have all been negative, and I have never experienced anything like this!
But in times past, they were at an actual clinic with MDs and nurses , with and a local number you could call with questions or concerns, which also had a true receptionist, not a digital kiosk - definitely NOT manned by 1 or 2 people with admittedly little or no training or oversight!
So I guess there's nothing else I can do, is there?
Anything I say will only make me look worse and guilty, despite being innocent and terrified of drugs!
Thus, it's highly possible - even likely - that because this person was not trained on this test and had never performed the test before, the results will be inconclusive or inadequate test sample - and thus, I will lose out on the best paying job of my life :(
Well, I feel a little less powerless/better about this, after writing the whole story down in rant about it here, but I'm not sure I can sleep yet, or for the next 3 days. This weekend, the worry about it was overwhelming and brutal, the prospect of being 55 with no job.
(Well, it probably didn't help that I had a COVID and flu shot yesterday, which always makes me more anxious, though I've never had a side effect from those other than tiredness.)
Could you, if you were 55 and the best job of your life was offered, but might be rescinded, not because you use drugs or have ever used drugs, but because admittedly untrained staff kept admittedly screwing up your lab orders and results?
I swear to God, sometimes I feel like I'm cursed or the most unlucky person in the world.
Previously, I would've blamed myself and my own poor choices, but I didn't choose anything, here.
Plus now, I realize how shitty other people can be - especially corporations trying to save themselves a buck by hiring medical assistants to do nurse's jobs, but with lower pay and no training!
Okay, I'm done. I think lol.
___________________
PS - Any friends or family reading this, please do not suggest a lawyer.
Not only do I not have the money for one, but if I was gonna do that and create a bunch of extra drama, over a job, I would've done it with the company that stole a sample of my voice to use for AI and sold it illegally, without my permission.
I'm just not very litigious and don't want to act like a Karen.
I'm not ruling it out, but it's highly unlikely. I'll just do what I always do with unreasonable stuff and unreasonable people - walk away.
It sucks, but it's not worth all the extra drama to me.
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