False negatives could occur when using fentanyl-detection test strips, according to a preliminary study undertaken by Health Canada.
The government agency said there are potential limitations in detecting the opioid in street drugs.
Health Canada said a false negative would be a test that does not detect fentanyl in a drug sample even though it is present. This could lead to a false sense of security, which Health Canada said could result in overdose or death.
The test strips work by dissolving a small amount of drugs in a solution. Health Canada said these test strips have not been designed for direct use by consumers, which could lead to false negative results.
Health Canada’s Drug Analysis Service is studying the accuracy of the strip against laboratory technology.
