An erroneous test result that indicates the presence of a drug that is absent is...

A false positive occurs when a test erroneously indicates the presence of a substance, such as a drug, that is not actually present. In the context of drug testing, this can happen due to cross-reactivity with other substances or errors in the testing procedure. Ensuring accuracy through confirmatory testing, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), is essential to reduce such occurrences.

ASIS Certified Protection Professional (CPP®) References:

Personnel Security Screening: CPP materials stress the importance of accuracy in pre-employment and workplace drug testing programs.

Risk Management: Addressing false positives is discussed as part of mitigating liability and ensuring fair personnel practices.