False-Positive LSD Testing in Urine Samples from Intensive Care Patients
J. Röhrich, Siegfried Zörntlein, Johannes Lotz, Jürgen Becker, Thomas Kern, Ch. Rittner
Journal of Analytical Toxicology September 1, 1998 DOI: 10.1093/jat/22.5.393 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA routine drug screening using the CEDIA DAU assay falsely identified lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in urine samples from 12 intensive care unit patients. None of these positive results were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography, but all samples contained the mucolytic drug ambroxol. Further investigation showed that ambroxol significantly cross-reacts with the CEDIA DAU LSD assay. Positive LSD results from this assay require careful evaluation, especially during cold season when mucolytic medications are more commonly used.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 12 |
| Population | Intensive care unit patients |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Urine Ambroxol Intensive care unit Chromatography |
| Citations | 25 |
| Key finding | Ambroxol cross-reacts with the CEDIA DAU LSD assay, causing false-positive results for LSD in urine samples. |
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.