And to be completely clear, there was apparently an assumption that it was a false reading because he was so far above the normal levels for a positive result. Have the Feds changed the upper and lower thresholds?

I only post here to give a real life situation. It's easy to cry wolf with anecdotal "thousands of poppy seed" stories, but sticking to facts that you are firmly in possession of is a preferable practice when careers are at stake.

They changed it before then. If the quantitation in the urine is less than 2,000 ng/ml then poppy seeds are a likely explanation. The DOT and all federal testing uses a 2000 ng/mL cutoff for this reason. Although the possibility is unlikely, there have been cases of poppy seeds causing positives as high as 5000 ng/ml. If the quantity is greater than 2000 ng/ml, then another test, 6 monoacetlymorphine (6 MAM), is automatically performed on federal workplace samples. Monoacetylmorphine is an opiate specific metabolite and is proof of use. If anyone has more up to date info please correct me.

Cliffs notes: second hand smoke and poppy seeds aren't to be worried about. Watch out for the tea in SA though!

About then there was an extra-potent batch of poppy-seed bagels or muffins (from costco of all places) which was causing military members to pop positive. The Navy actually warned everyone away from those particular bagels.

So never say never.

"SA" = ???

South 'Merica?

In any case, why? Vendors slipping a little something extra into the tea?

May want to stay away from the German "Mohnkuchen" (poppy seed cake) during the holidays. It's pretty darn tasty, too. Just saying.

If you are really worried about a positive weed test, go to Walgreens and get a test kit and see for yourself.

That puts his experience into perspective. Thanks!