False-Positive LSD Testing in Urine Samples from Intensive Care Patients
Journal of Analytical Toxicology – September 01, 1998
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Positive results for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) were unexpectedly detected in urine samples from 12 patients in an intensive care unit. However, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis confirmed none of these findings. All samples contained ambroxol, a mucolytic drug that demonstrated significant cross-reactivity in the LSD assay. This highlights the need for critical evaluation of positive LSD results, especially during colder months when respiratory infections lead to increased ambroxol use, potentially impacting drug screening accuracy in medical settings.
Abstract
Unexpected positive results for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) were found in urine samples from 12 patients in an intensive care unit in a routine screening using the CEDIA DAU assay. None of these test results could be confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, but all samples contained the mucolytic drug ambroxol. Further studies demonstrated that ambroxol exhibits a significant cross-reactivity in the CEDIA DAU LSD assay. Therefore, positive LSD results obtained with the CEDIA DAU assay have to be critically evaluated, particularly during the cold season, when infections of the respiratory tract often result in more frequent use of mucolytic medications.