Interference with testing for lysergic acid diethylamide

Abstract

We found a high rate (4.2%) of positive results for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) by Emit in 1898 urine samples that were submitted primarily from psychiatric patients for drugs-of-abuse (DOA) testing. Specimens that tested positive for LSD by Emit subsequently tested negative for LSD with two RIAs. Furthermore, LSD was not detected in randomly selected Emit-positive urine samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Normal urine samples tested positive for LSD by Emit when they were supplemented with therapeutic medications that were prescribed for patients with positive urine LSD results by Emit. These therapeutic drugs interfered specifically with the Emit assay for LSD, since other Emit DOA tests were not affected by these medications at the tested concentrations.

What Can a Urine Drug Screening Immunoassay Really Tell Us?

“…Fluoxetine 8 , buspirone 8 , haloperidol 8 , labetalol 8 , risperidone 8 , trazodone 8 , doxepin 8 , diltiazem 8 , verapamil 8 , amitriptyline 8 , metoclopramide 8 , methylphenidate 75 , imipramine 75 , ergonovine 75 , fentanyl 75 , norfentanyl 75 (metabolite), sertraline 75 , bupropion 76 , prochlorperazine 77 None known-LSD-specific immunoassays have adequate sensitivity to detect LSD and/or 2-oxo-3-hydroxy LSD in urine Tricyclic antidpressants (TCAs) Common targets Amitriptyline Imipramine…”

Problems encountered when testing for LSD in a regional medium secure unit

“…The initial literature search identified numerous papers on different methods of LSD testing, but only two on interference with testing for LSD. One paper, by Ritter et al (1997), was particularly useful. The other paper, by Rohrich et al (1998), was also useful although their work was done with intensive care patients only.…”