Citation

Rochholz G, Westphal F, Wiesbrock UO, Schutz HW. Blutalkohol 2004; 41(4): 319-329.

Affiliation

Rochholz, G., Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, Univ. Klin. Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, 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 aim of the study was to check whether the consumption of bakery products containing poppy seeds could result not only in positive opiate findings in urine but also in measurable amounts of morphine and codeine in blood and hair. Five volunteers consumed small amounts of poppy seed products. Following this, urine samples were tested by immunoassay for their opiate content. Even 42 hours after consumption of one single large poppy seed roll immunologically positive opiate results could be obtained. Additionally blood samples of three volunteers were tested by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for free and conjugated morphine. Free morphine could not be detected in any of the samples. The sum of free and conjugated morphine in the blood of two volunteers was 35,2 and 36,0 ng/ml respectively four hours after the beginning of the consumption of poppy seed bakery products. One volunteer showed a concentration of 15,1 ng/ml after 20 hours another 9,6 ng/ml after 26 hours. Two volunteers consumed moderate amounts of poppy seed products over a two-week period. In their beard and head hair morphine was found in concentrations of 0,096 and 0,058 ng/mg respectively. Traces of codeine could also be detected in hair from the head. The study shows that in this day and age in Germany too, all positive opiate-findings must undergo critical judgement. As the detection of thebain is inappropriate to differentiate between heroin and poppy seed intake, at present consumption of heroin can be proven most suitably by the presence of 6-monoacetylmorphine in hair.