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Efavirenz does not cause false-positive urine cannabis test in HIV-infected patients on Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy

Koh KC 1 , Lee WY 2 , Eh ZW 3 , Ismail NJ 4 , Tee PS 5 , Othman A 6 Show all authors , Murgaya T 7

Affiliations 

  • 1 Koh Kwee Choy. International Medical University, Internal Medicine, Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan 70400, Malaysia. kweechoy_koh@imu.edu.my
  • 2 Lee Wei-Yee. International Medical University, Internal Medicine, Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan 70400, Malaysia.
  • 3 Eh Zhen Wei. International Medical University, Internal Medicine, Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan 70400, Malaysia.
  • 4 Nor Julaika Ismail. International Medical University, Internal Medicine, Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan 70400, Malaysia.
  • 5 Tee Pei Sen. International Medical University, Internal Medicine, Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan 70400, Malaysia.
  • 6 Azizon Othman, MPath (Haematology). International Medical University, Internal Medicine, Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan 70400, Malaysia.
  • 7 Thilageswary Murgaya, BSc (Hons) Biochemistry. International Medical University, Internal Medicine, Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan 70400, Malaysia.
Med J Malaysia, 2013 Jun;68(3):249-52.
PMID: 23749016

Abstract

Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in combination with other drugs for the treatment of patients with HIV infection. Efavirenz has been reported to cause a positive urine cannabis test reaction which may create problems between HIV-infected patients on Efavirenz and law enforcement agencies. Doctors are at loss whether to issue documents certifying the potential false positive urine cannabis test with Efavirenz to patients. We investigated if the urine of HIV-infected patients on Efavirenz caused a positive urine cannabis test using the AxSYM Cannabinoids Assay®. Urine samples from 51 eligible patients on Efavirenz were tested for cannabis. All tested negative except for one who had used cannabis the day before. Efavirenz does not cause false positive urine cannabis test with the AxSYM Cannabinoids Assay®. Certification documents from doctors are therefore unnecessary.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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