AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
Question Doctor,
I am involved in a probation program and am taking Urinalisis test for recreational drug use prevention. I have a live disease known as Gilberts syndrome and have been testing positive for marijuana. I am facing charges even though I am not using. Is it possible that my condition could cause a false positive?
Answer Dear Tyler
All the pharmacy panel on this site get frequent questions on these false positives for every abusable drug under the sun. I have also corresponded with physicians in the US about this and are convinced that many of these laboratories turn out false positives at a drop of a hat. There is something seriously wrong with this so called democratic system that innocent people are being branded drug abusers/users/addicts etc. Having Gilbert's syndrome is neither here not there in this situation. All I can say is that you demand a repeat test with a second sealed sample given to you for subsequent analysis if a false positive is detected. Also, it is time the citizens of the US start to seriously and legally question these tests. I think all on this part of allexperts get several similar questions weekly. As Shakespeare said "There is something rotten about the state of Denmark". This problem certainly does not arise in Europe or Australia where I live. It seems that one is guilty until proven innocent but one does not easily get to prove this.
