News
If You Are Going to Have Drug Screening Test, Skip the Poppy Seed Bagel
Drug tests are an increasingly common workplace requirement—some 150 million were performed in the U.S. in 2009, this Medpage Today story says.
Researchers presenting today at the American Psychiatric Association annual meeting say that the scientific basis for drug testing has “gaps.” Specifically, the gaps noted are the opioid class—oxycodone is an example. It is a popular drug which has gotten many public figures in trouble.
Physicians have to ask for those screenings because these are not part of the standard drug test.
If you have to have one as part of your job, be aware that odd items can affect results, such as the poppy seeds.
If you supervise workers who have these screens, you may want to ask a lot of questions about the tests your company uses. Be sure that the test is screening for the substances you are concerned about and that you understand the limitations of the tests.
No one wants to lose a job or a good worker because of an error.
No one wants a worker who has a drug problem going undetected, either.
“That poppy seeds can lead to false-positive results on tests for opioid abuse is not just an urban legend, researchers said here.
“Amounts as small as a teaspoon — at least the amount on a poppy seed bagel — can trigger a positive finding, and can last for two to three days after consumption, according to Dwight Smith, MD, of Boston Medical Center, and colleagues.
“The example is one of many suggesting that drug-abuse tests often give inaccurate results, according Smith’s presentation here at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting.
“Another example is that most standard drug tests don’t screen for the opioid drug oxycodone, as well as a handful of other opioids including methadone and fentanyl, Smith noted. Physicians must specifically order these assays.
“There are gaps in our understanding of the science behind drug tests, and how that leads to our interpretation of testing results,” Smith said. That’s one of the reasons he and colleagues conducted a review of the literature on drug tests, their scientific background, and potential clinical concerns.
“The latter are particularly important because drug screens are so common, Smith said. Last year, about 150 million drug tests were conducted in the United States.”
Source: Medpage Today, May 24, 2010
Source: Meeting Presentation, American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, May 24, 2010
