Benzodiazposurcfm
This test confirms the presence of benzodiazepine medications in your urine using a specialized laboratory method.
{"This test detects benzodiazepine drugs (like Valium, Xanax, Ativan) in urine","A positive result means these medications or their breakdown products were found","This is a confirmatory test, meaning it verifies initial screening results","Results help healthcare providers monitor medication use or investigate potential misuse","The test cannot determine dosage amount or when the drug was taken"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 19282-3
- Short code
- BENZO-CFM
- Synonyms
- Benzodiaz Pos Ur Cfm
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- urine
- Container
- Sterile, tamper-evident urine specimen container without preservatives (e.g., 50-100 mL screw-cap container). Chain-of-custody container required for medico-legal or forensic testing.
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- confirm
- CPT
- 80346 (Definitive drug identification, qualitative or quantitative, single drug class, benzodiazepines, by definitive chromatography/mass spectrometry); G0480 may apply for definitive drug class testing under certain payer guidelines
- SNOMED
- 33311009 |Drug screen for benzodiazepines (procedure)|; 167601001 |Benzodiazepine positive (finding)|
- Specimen volume
- Minimum 10-30 mL of urine; 30-50 mL preferred for confirmatory testing to allow for repeat analysis and potential reflex testing.
- Stability
- Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days. Frozen (-20°C or below): 30 days for benzodiazepine metabolite analysis. For prolonged storage beyond 7 days, freezing is recommended. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 24–72 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
This test looks for benzodiazepines in your urine. Benzodiazepines are a class of prescription medications commonly used to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms. Common examples include diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and clonazepam (Klonopin). This confirmatory test uses specialized laboratory techniques to accurately identify the presence of these drugs or their metabolites (breakdown products).
Why is this test ordered?
Your healthcare provider may order this test for several reasons: to verify a positive screening test result, to monitor patient compliance with prescribed benzodiazepine therapy, to investigate unexplained symptoms, or as part of a comprehensive drug testing panel. It may also be used in emergency situations to help diagnose overdose or in forensic investigations with proper authorization.
How is the test performed?
A urine sample is collected in a sterile container. The sample is then sent to a laboratory where it undergoes confirmatory testing, typically using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These methods are highly accurate and can specifically identify individual benzodiazepine compounds and their metabolites.
What do the results mean?
A 'positive' result indicates that benzodiazepines or their metabolites were detected in your urine. This could mean you are taking a prescribed benzodiazepine, have taken one recently, or have been exposed to these drugs. A 'negative' result means no benzodiazepines were detected, or they were below the test's detection threshold. Your healthcare provider will interpret these results in the context of your medical history and current medications.
Reference range
Negative: Benzodiazepines not detected at or above the confirmation cutoff. Cutoff thresholds vary by specific benzodiazepine (e.g., nordiazepam 100 ng/mL, oxazepam 100 ng/mL, temazepam 100 ng/mL, alpha-hydroxyalprazolam 50 ng/mL, 7-aminoclonazepam 50 ng/mL, alpha-hydroxymidazolam 50 ng/mL, 2-hydroxyethylflurazepam 50 ng/mL). Positive results indicate the presence of the specific benzodiazepine metabolite at or above the established cutoff concentration.N/A
No fasting required. Patient should be informed that certain prescription and over-the-counter medications may produce positive results. A complete medication history including dosage, frequency, and last dose time should be documented. Patients should be advised against specimen adulteration or substitution, which may be detected through integrity testing (temperature, pH, specific gravity, creatinine).
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings1
Frequently asked questions
Will a positive result show how much medication I took?
Can natural supplements or foods cause a positive result?
How long do benzodiazepines stay in urine?
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Is this test confidential?
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 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy