Barbituratespnlbldcfm
A blood test that detects and confirms the presence of barbiturate medications in your system.
{"This test checks for barbiturate drugs (sedatives) in your blood","A confirmatory method is used to ensure accurate results","The test requires a blood sample drawn from a vein","It may be ordered to monitor medication levels or check for drug use","Results help doctors ensure proper dosing or detect inappropriate use"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 72480-7
- Short code
- BARBCONF
- Synonyms
- Barbiturates Pnl Bld Cfm
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top vacutainer tube (no anticoagulant) for serum; alternatively gray-top sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate tube for forensic specimens
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 10
- Ref high
- 40
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- confirm
- CPT
- 80345 (definitive drug confirmation, barbiturates); G0480-G0483 for bundled confirmatory testing
- SNOMED
- 395080008 |Barbiturate measurement|; 167226008 |Blood barbiturate level|
- Specimen volume
- 5-10 mL whole blood; minimum 2 mL serum required for analysis
- Stability
- Room temperature: 24 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days; Frozen (-20°C or below): 30 days for long-term storage. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 100
- Lipemia max
- 100
- Icterus max
- 50
- TAT
- 48–240 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
The Barbiturates panel is a blood test that detects the presence of barbiturates in your bloodstream. Barbiturates are a class of prescription medications used as sedatives, anticonvulsants, and anesthetics. Examples include phenobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital, and amobarbital. The confirmatory method used in this test is a more specific technique that verifies positive screening results, ensuring greater accuracy.
Why is this test ordered?
Your doctor may order this test for several reasons: to monitor therapeutic drug levels if you are taking barbiturates for seizure control or sedation, to check for proper dosing, to verify a positive screening test result, or to investigate suspected drug overdose or poisoning. It may also be used in forensic or employment settings where drug detection is required.
How is the test performed?
A healthcare professional will draw a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm using a needle. The blood is collected into a special tube and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The confirmatory method typically uses gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which are highly accurate and specific techniques for identifying and quantifying barbiturates.
How to prepare for the test?
Follow your doctor's instructions regarding medication. Do not stop taking prescribed barbiturates unless your doctor specifically instructs you to do so. Inform your doctor about all medications, supplements, and herbal products you are taking, as some substances may affect test results. There is typically no fasting requirement for this blood test.
Understanding your results
Results are typically reported as either positive (barbiturates detected) or negative (no barbiturates detected). If you are taking barbiturates therapeutically, the results may show the specific level of medication in your blood. Your doctor will interpret the results based on your medical history, the specific barbiturate detected, and the reason for testing. Therapeutic ranges vary depending on the specific medication and individual factors.
Reference range
Negative (not detected): < threshold of quantification (typically <0.1 mcg/mL for individual barbiturates). Therapeutic ranges vary by specific barbiturate: Phenobarbital 10-40 mcg/mL, Butabarbital 1-5 mcg/mL, Pentobarbital 1-5 mcg/mL, Secobarbital 1-2 mcg/mL. Report includes individual barbiturate concentrations.N/A
No fasting required. Patient should be informed that barbiturate confirmatory testing may require 3-10 business days for completion. Avoid collecting during peak distribution phase if assessing toxicity. Document time of last dose, time of sample collection, and suspected ingestion time when applicable. For forensic or medico-legal purposes, chain of custody documentation is required.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings2
Frequently asked questions
How long do barbiturates stay in blood?
Can this test tell me my exact medication dose?
Will a positive result show which specific barbiturate I took?
Can this test detect barbiturates from food or other sources?
Do I need to stop my barbiturate medication before this test?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 15, 2026. · Read our editorial policy