• Jennifer L Zacher and Donna M Givone.
• PharmD Student, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
• Ann Pharmacother. 2004 Sep 1; 38 (9): 1525-8.

ObjectiveTo review the literature regarding false-positive urine opiate screens associated with the use of fluoroquinolones.Data SourcesLiterature was identified using MEDLINE (1966-February 2004), EMBASE, and all EBM Reviews with the terms quinolones, substance abuse detection, opiates, cross-reactions, false-positive reactions, and each fluoroquinolone. Article references were also reviewed.Data SynthesisVarious settings utilize the practice of screening for drugs of abuse, such as opiates. These screening procedures can impact aspects of one's life, such as employment; therefore, accuracy is of the utmost importance. Two clinical trials were evaluated which showed that certain fluoroquinolone antibiotics cross-react with some of the commonly used urine opiate screening immunoassays. This suggests the importance of verifying positive results in instances where one's livelihood can be affected.ConclusionsFluoroquinolones can cause false-positive urine opiate screens. Clinicians should be aware of this potential interaction and may need to verify positive results.

10 keywords...

hide…