Detection of opiates after poppy seed consumption in urine samples
Authors:
S. Racková 1; J. Racek 2; L. Janů 3
Authors‘ workplace:
Psychiatrická a psychoterapeutická ambulance, Slovanská tř. 69, 326 00 Plzeň
1; Ústav klinické biochemie a hematologie, Univerzita Karlova, Lékařská fakulta v Plzni a FN v Plzni
2; MedAvante Inc., Smrková 23, 312 00 Plzeň
3
Published in:
Klin. Biochem. Metab., 28, 2020, No. 2, p. 40-45
Overview
Objective: Czech Republic belongs among the biggest world producers of poppy seeds. Poppy seeds are used in medicine and are part of traditional food. This plant contains several alkaloids including morphine and codeine. The aim of our study was to investigate whether opiates can be detected in urine samples after single ingestion of poppy seeds in cakes in a group of volunteers.
Design: prospective trial
Settings: Psychiatric a psychotherapeutic out-patient department, Slovanska 69, Plzen, MedAvante Inc., Smrkova 23, Plzen and Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital, Pilsen, Czech Republic
Material and Methods: We examined opiates with a qualitative and semiquantitative method in urine samples of 14 volunteers 15 hours after ingestion of a definitive amount of poppy seeds in home-made cakes. Correlation between amount of ingested poppy seeds and concentration of opiates in urine was observed.
Results: In 12 volunteers opiates in urine were detected by a qualitative immunochemical test 15 hours after poppy seeds ingestion. Using a semiquantitative immunochemical method, a significant correlation between opiates concentration in urine (after correction for urine creatinine) and amount of ingested poppy seeds was found. In two persons concentration of opiates in urine exceeded 300 μg/L; this concentration is considered positive when testing opiate-addicted persons.
Conclusion: On the basis of the study results and a case of a patient with unconsciousness and a positive finding of opiates in urine we can conclude that preceding ingestion of poppy seeds in diet must be taken into account when evaluating this laboratory finding.
Keywords:
poppy seed – opiates – Morphine – Codeine – immunochemical determination
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Clinical biochemistry Nuclear medicine Nutritive therapistArticle was published in
Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolism
2020 Issue 2
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