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Cross-reactivity of the CEDIA buprenorphine assay with opiates: an Austrian phenomenon?

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Abstract

When testing the Microgenics CEDIA assay for immunological buprenorphine analysis, cross-reactivity between the buprenorphine reagents and opiates was observed at concentrations higher than 120 mg/l morphine, 320 mg/l methadone, 30 mg/l codeine, 60 mg/l dihydrocodeine and 520 mg/l morphine-3-glucuronide. The cross-reactivity with morphine has the greatest impact on routine screening as opiate maintenance therapy in Austria is also performed with slow-release oral morphine. The use of a second cutoff value of 30 μg/l for urine samples that are (immunologically) positive for opiates is therefore suggested, compared to the cutoff value of 5 μg/l proposed by the manufacturer.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mrs. Verena Kuenz and Mr. Karl-Heinz Pramstrahler for their valuable support in the laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Muellerstraße 44, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    M. Pavlic, K. Libiseller, P. Grubwieser & W. Rabl

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  1. M. Pavlic
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  2. K. Libiseller
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  3. P. Grubwieser
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  4. W. Rabl
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Correspondence to M. Pavlic.

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Pavlic, M., Libiseller, K., Grubwieser, P. et al. Cross-reactivity of the CEDIA buprenorphine assay with opiates: an Austrian phenomenon?. Int J Legal Med 119, 378–381 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-005-0544-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-005-0544-x

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