Good Morning

Do any of you know how long it would be before the consumption of poppy seeds would be out of someone’s system and therefore no longer show up as a false positive please?

Does anyone have any written advice that can be offered to new starters prior to their pre-placement screening in relation to meds/foods prior to screening. I’m going to put something together which can be included with the offer letter and D&A policy.

I have a case where a new starter tested non-negative for opiates and then after the test he stated that he may have had one ‘strong paracetamol’ i.e. it could have contained another ingredient (our current policy does not prohibit late declaration following a test unfortunately).

The lab report does not comment on the medication disclosed (probably because the history was poor) but tested positive for Morphine at a level well over  ten times higher than the cut off level of 300 and states may be consistent with poppy seed consumption.

Poppy seeds as you have probably guessed were not discussed at the time of the test. I telephoned the lab for clarification and was told verbally that the result was not consistent with over the counter medication and would have had to be prescribed and that again poppy seeds were the likely culprit.  I was then advised to refer it to our OHP which only attends once per month ( I have emailed him).

All advice would be gratefully considered.

Kind regards

Paula Highton RN BSc(Hons) SCPHN (OH)

Occupational Health Manager

Medical Centre ext 272

 Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd. | Sheffield S9 2RW | Email: [log in to unmask] | Tel: 0114 244 9071 Fax: 0114 243 2711

www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

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