Butabarbital, Confirmation

CPT Code(s):
80345

Turnaround Time:
48 - 72 hours

Specimen Requirements

Preferred Specimen:
Urine

Minimum Volume:
5.0 mL

Transport Container:
Yellow Top Tube

Transport Temperature:
Room Temperature

Collection Instructions:
Monitoring is recommended for samples to be tested for medico-legal purposes.

Rejection Criteria:
Quantity not sufficient for analysis; improper specimen (serum, plasma, blood); incomplete specimen identification

Stability Criteria

Room Temperature:
24 hours

Refrigerated:
7 days

Frozen:
30 days

Clinical Significance

Butabarbital with quantitative results, performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS), holds specific clinical significance and diagnostic use in the field of toxicology and medication monitoring.

Butabarbital is a barbiturate medication that belongs to the class of central nervous system depressants. Butabarbital measures the concentration of butabarbital in a patient's blood or urine sample, providing quantitative measurements for accurate assessment of drug levels in the body.

LC/MS-MS is a highly sensitive and specific analytical technique used for the quantification of substances in biological samples. It combines liquid chromatography, which separates the components of a sample, with tandem mass spectrometry, which identifies and quantifies the separated components based on their molecular characteristics. LC/MS-MS provides precise and reliable measurements of butabarbital levels.

The clinical significance and diagnostic use of Butabarbital with LC/MS-MS include:

1. Medication Monitoring: The test aids in therapeutic drug monitoring of butabarbital therapy. By measuring butabarbital levels, healthcare providers can assess the adequacy of drug dosing, optimize treatment regimens, and ensure patients are within the therapeutic range. Monitoring drug levels helps achieve desired clinical outcomes while minimizing the risk of side effects or therapeutic failure.

2. Assessment of Medication Compliance: The test assists in monitoring patient compliance with prescribed butabarbital therapy. By quantifying butabarbital levels, it provides objective evidence of recent drug use. Monitoring compliance is particularly relevant in cases where non-adherence to prescribed treatment regimens may impact therapeutic efficacy or contribute to treatment resistance.

3. Identification of Toxic Levels: Butabarbital helps identify potential toxic levels of the drug. Overdose or excessive use of butabarbital can lead to central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, or even coma. Quantitative measurement of butabarbital levels aids in assessing drug toxicity, guiding appropriate interventions, and monitoring the effectiveness of treatment interventions in overdose situations.

4. Forensic and Medicolegal Investigations: The test has forensic and medicolegal applications, especially in cases involving suspected butabarbital misuse or overdose. Quantitative measurements of butabarbital levels can provide objective evidence of drug exposure, aiding in the determination of cause of death or assisting legal investigations.

In summary, Butabarbital with quantitative results using LC/MS-MS has clinical significance in toxicology and medication monitoring. It assists in therapeutic drug monitoring, medication compliance assessment, identification of toxic levels, and supports forensic and medicolegal investigations. By providing accurate and reliable measurements of butabarbital levels, this test plays a vital role in optimizing treatment, ensuring patient safety, and providing valuable information to healthcare providers and legal professionals.