Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A blood test that checks for the presence of barbiturates, a type of sedative medication.
{"This test detects barbiturates in your blood serum","It helps monitor proper medication levels or detect overdose","Results are reported as positive or negative (presence/absence)","No special preparation is typically required","Results help doctors ensure safe and effective dosing"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 61067-5
- Short code
- BARBS
- Synonyms
- Barbiturates Spec Ql Scn
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top serum collection tube (no anticoagulant) or serum separator tube (SST, gold-top). Glass tubes preferred for forensic specimens to avoid plasticizer interference.
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 3.5
- Ref high
- 7.2
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- screen
- CPT
- 80307
- SNOMED
- 6140006
- Specimen volume
- 5-10 mL whole blood (yields 2-4 mL serum)
- Stability
- Serum stable at room temperature (20-25°C) for 24 hours; refrigerated (2-8°C) for 7 days; frozen (-20°C or below) for 30 days. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 100
- Lipemia max
- 100
- Icterus max
- 50
- TAT
- 1–24 hours
- Order
- routine
A complete blood count (CBC) is a common blood test that measures the different cells in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It gives your doctor a broad picture of your overall health and can help detect a wide range of conditions, from anemia and infections to blood disorders.
The Barbiturate Screen is a laboratory test that analyzes a sample of your blood (serum) to detect whether barbiturates are present. Barbiturates are a class of prescription medications that act as central nervous system depressants. They are commonly used for sedation, anesthesia, seizure control, and treating certain sleep disorders. This screening test determines whether these drugs are in your system at the time the blood sample is taken.
The test is done with a simple blood draw, usually from a vein in your arm. A healthcare provider will clean the skin, wrap a band around your upper arm, and collect a small sample of blood through a thin needle into a tube. The procedure takes only a few minutes, and you may feel a brief sting or notice slight bruising afterward.
A healthcare professional will draw a small blood sample from a vein in your arm using a needle. The sample is then sent to a laboratory where it is analyzed using screening methods to detect the presence of barbiturates. The test is qualitative, meaning it typically reports whether barbiturates are detected (positive) or not detected (negative), rather than showing exact concentrations.
Your doctor may order this test as part of a routine checkup, to look into symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, fever, easy bruising, or unexplained weight loss, to monitor a known condition such as anemia or infection, or to track how treatments like chemotherapy are affecting your blood cells over time.
Your doctor may order this test for several reasons: to monitor if you are taking your prescribed barbiturate medication at proper levels, to investigate symptoms of possible overdose or poisoning, to evaluate unexplained sedation or coma, or to check for intentional or unintentional drug misuse. It may also be used in emergency situations when a patient shows signs of drug intoxication.
Your results are compared with normal reference ranges. A low red blood cell count may suggest anemia, while a high count can occur with dehydration or lung disease. An elevated white blood cell count often points to infection or inflammation, and a low count may affect your ability to fight illness. Abnormal platelet levels can influence how well your blood clots. Your doctor will interpret these values together with your symptoms and medical history.
A 'positive' result means barbiturates were detected in your blood sample. A 'negative' result means no barbiturates were detected. Your doctor will interpret these results along with your medical history, symptoms, and other test findings to determine what action, if any, is needed. If you are taking barbiturate medication as prescribed, a positive result is expected and helps confirm proper dosing.
Reference range
NCBI: Uric Acid Male 3.5-7.2 mg/dL; Female 2.5-6.8 mg/dLN/A
No special preparation required. Patient should be informed that prescription and over-the-counter medications containing barbiturates may produce positive results. Inform the laboratory of all current medications. Specimen should be collected prior to administration of emergency medications when clinically feasible.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Barbiturates are prescription medications used primarily for sedation, anesthesia induction, seizure control, and treating insomnia. This test is clinically significant for therapeutic drug monitoring—ensuring patients maintain effective but safe medication levels. It is also crucial in emergency medicine for diagnosing barbiturate overdose or intoxication, which can cause symptoms ranging from drowsiness and confusion to respiratory failure and coma. The test may also be used in substance abuse evaluation when barbiturate use is suspected.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before this test?
Will the test show how much medication I took?
How long do barbiturates stay in my blood?
Is this test the same as a drug test for employment?
What should I tell my doctor before the 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 17, 2026. · Read our editorial policy