Rapid, Low-Cost, and Portable Detection of Morphine and Codeine on Poppy Seeds via a Lateral Flow Immunoassay

In this work, a rapid lateral flow immunoassay is used to detect opiate alkaloids on poppy seeds. This assay is a qualitative limit (pass/fail) test that can detect morphine and codeine on poppy seeds. Our results demonstrate that the lateral flow immunoassay is highly effective at discriminating poppy seeds with total morphine plus codeine concentrations of ≥40 μg/g from poppy seeds with relatively lower concentrations of these opiate alkaloids. All poppy seed samples were also analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to quantify opiate alkaloid concentrations on poppy seed samples and to evaluate the performance of the rapid lateral flow immunoassay. Rapid, low-cost, and portable detection of opiate alkaloids on poppy seeds may provide both the food industry and regulatory officials with a simple and easy-to-use method for ensuring the safety of poppy seeds intended for human consumption.