Abstract
On-site drug screening devices are widely used today for their simple test procedures and instantaneous results. Among other devices, a Triage® Drug of Abuse panel is considered to be highly reliable for its high specificity and sensitivity of abused drugs. Although it is known that a false positive amphetamine (AMP) result may be obtained from the urine samples containing putrefactive amines or ephedrine-related compounds, no clinical false negative methamphetamine results have been reported to date. However, a false negative Triage® result was obtained from the urine of a fatal methamphetamine poisoning victim taking Vegetamine® tablets. Further experimental analyses revealed that the cross-reactivity of methamphetamine and chlorpromazine metabolites, including nor-2-chlorpromazine sulfoxide, was the cause for a false negative Triage® reaction for AMP. Forensic scientists and clinicians must be aware of the limitations of on-site drug testing devices and the need for the confirmatory laboratory tests for the precise identification and quantification of drugs in suspicious intoxication cases, as also recommended by the manufacturers.
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Hikiji, W., Kudo, K., Sato, S. et al. False negative result for amphetamines on the Triage® Drug of Abuse panel?. Int J Legal Med 123, 247–252 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0304-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0304-9