Benzodiazepines (T611) [Back]
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| RISK ASSESSMENT VALUE: |
Among this group of drugs, the most prominent is Valium. Benzodiazepines are used therapeutically as so-called minor tranquilizers. Doses between 2.5 and 10 mg produce a calming effect while higher doses produce muscle-relaxing effects. Drug addicts utilize Valium in high doses to counter the excitatory effects of other drugs or as a means of inducing tranquil states. Acutely, benzodiazepine overdose may produce somnolence, confusion, seizures, and coma. Rarely, hypertension, respiratory depression, and cardiac arrest may occur. Chronically, physical and psychological dependence occur. Sudden discontinuance of the drug may lead to anxiety, sweating, irritability, hallucination, diarrhea, and seizures.
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| NORMAL RESULTS: |
Negative.
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| ABNORMAL RESULTS: |
The original immunoassay has been confirmed by GC/MS. The screening cutoff for benzodiazepines is 300 ng/mL. The confirmation cutoff for benzodiazepines in those samples is 300 ng/mL. A cutoff is the concentration of analyte (drug) in a urine sample at or above which the sample is considered positive for that drug. The purpose of the cutoff is to insure consistency and reliability throughout the testing process. The screening cutoff is different than the confirmation cutoff because the screening test detects all forms of the drug whereas the confirmation test measures only one form (metabolite) of the drug in question. A confirmed positive result benzodiazepines means that the urine concentration of that analyte was equal to or greater than the confirmation cutoff concentration (usually 300 ng/mL). This concentration is consistent with ingestion of the analyte or the analyte-producing medication sometime within the 48-hour period preceding the urine collection.
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| ADDITIONAL TESTS: |
If absorbance is greater than the positive control, then test by GC/MS. Screening cutoff is 300 ng/mL.
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| SAMPLE NEEDED: |
Random urine specimen in a properly sealed and labeled urine container; plasma from gray top tube.
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| SAMPLE STABILITY: |
After proper collection, neither amphetamine nor methamphetamine concentration in urine will change significantly for 10 days at room temperature, for several weeks at refrigerated temperature or indefinitely when frozen.
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| METHOD & INSTRUMENT: |
Preliminary screening for drugs of abuse in urine is performed by immunoassay, Hitachi 747.
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| INTERFERING FACTORS: |
Though no compounds have been tested which cannot be separated from benzodiazepine by GC/MS analysis, there are medications which actually contain these analytes or cause them to be produced by the body.
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| PURPOSE: |
" Urine positive indicates recent usage
" Blood levels indicate toxicity
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| PROFILE INCLUDES: |
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| RISK RANGE & UNITS: |
Negative.
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