false negative on drug screen (saliva) - very worried

I am a long-term chronic pain patient who has been using extended release morphine for 12 years. Five or six years ago, my doctor began requiring a urine test at each visit, 4 times per year. I also signed a contract saying I could be called in for a random test at any time.

These tests have been done by three different labs over the years, and I have never had a problem with any test - they have all showed the meds that are in my system, which are prescribed by this doctor.

At my most recent visit, I was having a hard time feeling the urge to urinate, despite drinking a bunch of water. The office staff gave me the option to go to the same lab I always go to, and do a saliva test instead of urine. I had to pay more for the saliva, but to save time since I didn't feel like I could produce urine, I decided to do it.

This week I got a letter from my doctor saying my urine test did not show any medication in it, and that I was to provide a written explanation for this result. His letter specifically says "urine test" even though I did a saliva test.

I am sooo freaked out!!! I know my doctor trusts me and we have a wonderful relationship of over 15 years. But I am so scared and angry!!

I take my medication like clock-work, and if I had missed my dose, I would have been bed-ridden the following day (I take the the extended-release before bedtime at 9:45pm each night). I live alone and no one has access to my medications.

I think it is very strange that the one time this has EVER happened is the ONE time I have done a saliva test rather than a urine test. I was also drinking water right up until I took the test (no one told me to stop drinking before the test). I took a big sip of water, walked into the back, and they put the strip under my tongue.

If anyone here has any knowledge about this, I would love to hear it. I'm researching on-line but wondered if anyone here might know anything about this.

Post Edited (Candy_Apple) : 2/11/2017 5:06:06 PM (GMT-7)

Thank you Straydog.... I am praying that my perfect history will be what saves me in this situation. I don't think I am going to be able to relax until I find out that he is not kicking me out. I have been doing some research and it seems there are studies that show that for some percentage of people, a urine test will show positive while the saliva test shows negative, also vice-versa.

I don't know, pitmom. I sent my response in today, they should get it Wednesday. I'm going to have to hope that 15+ years of a perfect record, plus my argument as to how this is possible (as per research) and drinking so much water prior to test, works in my favor.

It was my doctor who sent me the letter after he got the lab report back from the lab.

I have wonderful news to report though......

My doctor's office called and said that they would just like me to return for my regularly-scheduled follow-up visit in three months. They do not need me to do another tox screen before then. They told me that the saliva test is known to not be as reliable as urine.

Oh how I wish they would have told me that before I had to go through this incredible nightmare of fearing I was going to be cut off from pain management.

It seems that yes, my doctor does know me after 15 years and he knows that I do not abuse my medications in any way.

I cannot tell you how relieved I am.

Based on this, I will never take a saliva test again.

I am relieved but angry.

What if I did not have this particular doctor? One who is not only extremely knowledgeable about pain management, but also with whom I also have a long-term, trusting relationship.

I understand that doctors are now running scared due to all the regulations being put on them, and I am sorry for people who are addicted to medications and abuse them and overdose, but I am even more sorry for people like myself who do nothing wrong and just need pain medications to have some semblance of a life, and we are at the mercy of tests like this and the whole system.

If I had been a new patient, this incident could have cost me a doctor and access to my medications.

I know I am preaching to the choir here, but this topic just really works my last nerve.