Benzodiazepines, Screen

CPT Code(s):
80307

Turnaround Time:
8 hours

Specimen Requirements

Preferred Specimen:
Urine

Minimum Volume:
5.0 mL

Transport Container:
Yellow Top Tube or Sterile Cup

Transport Temperature:
Room Temperature

Collection Instructions:
Collect urine in plastic container and transfer to plain yellow top tube (without preservative).

Rejection Criteria:
Specimen received outside stability requirements; Excessive blood, particulates, viscosity present. Preservative (speckled top) tube.

Stability Criteria

Room Temperature:
5 days

Refrigerated:
7 days

Frozen:
30 days

Clinical Significance

Benzodiazepines Screen using immunoassay holds specific clinical significance and diagnostic use in the field of toxicology and drug screening. This test is designed to detect the presence of benzodiazepines, a class of central nervous system depressant drugs, in a patient's urine or other body fluids.

The clinical significance and diagnostic use of Benzodiazepines Screen using immunoassay include:

1. Drug Abuse Screening: The test is primarily used for screening and detecting the use of benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions, but they can also be misused or abused. Benzodiazepines Screen provides a quick and convenient method to determine whether a patient has recently used benzodiazepines, aiding in the identification of drug misuse or illicit drug use.

2. Evaluation of Medication Compliance: For patients prescribed benzodiazepines for legitimate medical purposes, Benzodiazepines Screen helps in monitoring medication compliance. By detecting the presence or absence of benzodiazepines in a patient's body fluids, the test provides objective evidence of recent drug use, supporting treatment compliance assessment and ensuring therapeutic efficacy.

3. Management of Overdose Cases: In cases of suspected benzodiazepine overdose or toxicity, Benzodiazepines Screen can assist in the diagnosis and management of patients. Detecting the presence of benzodiazepines confirms exposure and aids healthcare providers in evaluating the severity of the overdose, implementing appropriate interventions, and monitoring the patient's response to treatment.

4. Forensic and Toxicology Investigations: Benzodiazepines Screen has forensic and toxicology applications. Quantitative measurements of benzodiazepine levels can provide objective evidence of drug exposure, aiding in the determination of cause of death or assisting legal investigations related to drug use or impaired driving.

It is important to note that Benzodiazepines Screen using immunoassay provides a qualitative result, indicating the presence or absence of benzodiazepines above a specific threshold. If a positive result is obtained, further confirmatory testing using more specific methods, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), is typically performed to confirm the presence of specific benzodiazepines and provide quantitative measurements.

In summary, Benzodiazepines Screen using immunoassay has clinical significance in toxicology and drug screening. It aids in drug abuse screening, monitoring medication compliance, managing overdose cases, and supports forensic and toxicology investigations. By detecting the presence of benzodiazepines in a patient's body fluids, this test assists healthcare providers and legal professionals in identifying drug misuse, ensuring patient safety, and providing valuable information for clinical and legal decision-making.