False-positive EMIT indication of opiates and methadone in a doxylamine intoxication

The EMIT-dau for methadone and the EMIT-ST for opiates (both EMITs from Syva-Merck) gave false-positive results when applied to urine samples of a patient suffering from a moderate doxylamine monointoxication. The error was not detected in routine TLC. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry unequivocally indicated the presence in urine and plasma of doxylamine and its metabolites and the definite absence of methadone. Opiates could not be detected with the Abuscreen RIA (Roche), which is a more sensitive method than EMIT-ST.