Abstract
The present paper describes an evaluation of the interferences found with an immunochemical drug test performed during a workplace control. During the period 1993-2003 more than 200,000 urine samples from workers were examined by the Italian Air Force. Samples were screened for drugs of abuse (opiates, cocaine, cannabinoids, amphetamines, methadone) using an immunochemical technique (Roche, kinetic interaction of microparticles in solution, KIMS). A total of 520 positive samples were sent to the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory for confirmation by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Approximately 39% of these were found to be true positives. For the remaining samples, pharmacological therapy in subjects was estimated to evaluate possible interferences due to medicine intake. Our study showed a high frequency of false-positive results with this immunochemical technique, mainly for the cannabinoid and amphetamine groups. Recurrent references to some medicines during subject anamnesis were noted.
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