HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Does A False Positive Morphine Test Result Indicate Despite Taking Only Elderberries?

Posted on Wed, 27 Sep 2017

Question: Hi, thank you. Last month I picked large amounts of elderberries for home wine making, and also was given a urine test at pain management. The test came back for morphine. I do not take anything but the prescription issued me. I'm so upset by this. Do you think it could be false positive from elderberries, or more likely a lab mistake? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Elderberries do not cause false positive test for morphines!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I understand your frustration about these urine results. It will be more likely that this represents a lab mistake and not a false positive caused by elderberries. There are no documented studies which show that elderberries do cause false positive urine screen for morphines.

In all, I recommend this test should be repeated. Elderberries unlikely cause.

I hope this guides and helps. I wish you well. Feel free to follow up with me if need be.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)

Thank you Dr. Ditah. I just want to be very clear that I am not talking about the berry, but the stems and leaves. For about 3 weeks around the time of the urine test I was picking at least a 5 gallon bucket of the bunches every other day and sitting all evening picking the berries off. I've seen many sites that talk about cyanide and just wondered if that or any other poision in stems could cause false reading. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
We don't have evidence on this at this time!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Cyanide will not cause this false positive. While highly unlikely that stems and leaves could have caused this false positive, there are no existing papers about this. I will suggest that you ask the doctors to repeat this test as a lab error seems more likely than not seen your conviction of not having played foul with this substance.

Let me know how this plays out!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (4 hours later)

Thank you, I will let you know, and yes I have NOT played foul with anything. I don't even drink anymore. I just take their 4 hydrocodone a day, like I have for over a decade. I have turned down drugs from them, and I was the one who moved myself down from 6 a day. As you can imagine from this, I am being treated like some kind of criminal. It's awful being at same place for over a decade and getting no compassion or benefit of doubt.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (25 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Ask that they repeat it!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The laws and regulations are hard on them. Kindly request for a repeat and hopefully this will set you free.

I wish you well.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (23 hours later)

Pain Mng. called me today and said the lab said there was a very low level showing and said they would rerun the test and let us know in a couple of days. Fingers crossed.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Fingers indeed crossed!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Fingers crossed. I look forward to receiving a more positive news from you.

Expecting...

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar