Citation

Andresen H, Schmoldt A. Blutalkohol 2004; 41(3): 191-202.

Affiliation

Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, Universitat Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The consumption of poppy seeds or poppy seed filled bakery products can lead to positive urine immunoassay opiate results. These results can be verified and quantified by means of GC/MS and are not, as has frequently been assumed, found at low level ranges, but rather in the range consistent with morphine or heroin use (i. e. after poppy seed cake ingestion, up to 27.5 (mu)g/ml.). Positive blood immunoassay levels are also detectable after the consumption of larger amounts of poppy seeds; GC/MS analysis even demonstrated small quantities of free morphine (8.5 ng/ml and 13.5 ng/ml respectively). Other possible sources for differentiation were sought, as these findings could lead to problems in interpretation of results and since the lack of a demonstrable 6-Monoacetylmorphine (MAM) presence (as evidence for heroin use) cannot lead to the conclusion that poppy seeds were ingested. This possibility presents itself by means of hair analysis. It can be shown that a regular, moderate consumption of poppy seeds does not result in a measurable deposition of morphine or codeine in the hair.