Benzodiazurmcnc
A urine test that detects the presence of benzodiazepines, a class of commonly prescribed sedative medications.
{"This test checks for benzodiazepines (like Valium, Xanax, Ativan) in your urine","It is used for monitoring medication use, drug screening, or detecting overdose","Results show whether benzodiazepines are present, but not always the exact amount","Positive results may indicate legitimate prescription use or recreational use","Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications you are taking"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 9428-4
- Short code
- BENZUR
- Synonyms
- Benzodiaz Ur-mCnc
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- urine
- Container
- Sterile, screw-capped urine collection container; tamper-evident container required for forensic or chain-of-custody specimens. Transport tube without preservatives preferred for screening.
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 100
- Ref high
- 200
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- Immunoassay screening (e.g., EMIT, ELISA, CEDIA) with confirmation by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) or Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
- CPT
- 80307 (presumptive drug screening, any drug class); 80347 (benzodiazepines, definitive quantitation, if confirmation required); G0480 (definitive drug confirmation, depending on payer)
- SNOMED
- 250697005 | Urine benzodiazepines measurement |; 314529007 | Measurement of benzodiazepine in urine |
- Specimen volume
- 30-50 mL of random urine (minimum 10 mL)
- Stability
- Room temperature: 24 hours. Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days. Frozen (-20°C or below): 30 days for confirmation testing. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 4–72 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
The Benzodiazepines Urine Test is a laboratory test that detects the presence of benzodiazepines in your urine. Benzodiazepines are a class of prescription medications commonly used to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms. Examples include diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and clonazepam (Klonopin).
Why is this test performed?
This test may be ordered for several reasons: (1) To monitor patients taking benzodiazepine prescriptions to ensure proper use; (2) As part of routine drug screening for employment, sports, or legal purposes; (3) To help diagnose suspected benzodiazepine overdose or poisoning; (4) To monitor patients in substance abuse treatment programs; (5) To evaluate unexplained symptoms that may be related to benzodiazepine use or withdrawal.
How is the test done?
A urine sample is collected in a clean container. The sample is then sent to a laboratory where it is analyzed using immunoassay techniques and sometimes confirmatory testing like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The test detects whether benzodiazepines or their metabolites are present in the urine.
What do the results mean?
Results are typically reported as either 'Positive' (benzodiazepines detected) or 'Negative' (no benzodiazepines detected). A positive result means benzodiazepines or their breakdown products were found in your urine. However, this test does not typically measure the exact amount of drug in your system. The presence of benzodiazepines could indicate: legitimate prescription use, accidental overdose, or recreational/non-medical use. Your healthcare provider will interpret the results in the context of your medical history and current symptoms.
Are there any risks or limitations?
This urine test is generally safe with no physical risks. Limitations include: certain medications or supplements may cause false positive or false negative results; the test detects use within the past few days to weeks depending on the specific benzodiazepine; it cannot determine when the drug was taken or the level of impairment; some benzodiazepines may not be detected by all testing methods.
Reference range
Cutoff threshold: 200 ng/mL (screen) / 100-200 ng/mL (confirmation, lab-dependent). Negative: <200 ng/mL. Positive: ≥200 ng/mL. Detection window: approximately 1-7 days post-exposure depending on benzodiazepine type (short-acting vs. long-acting), dose, and patient metabolism.N/A
No fasting required. Patients should be advised that certain prescription and over-the-counter medications may cross-react. Informed consent may be required per institutional policy for drug screening. Collect sample under observation if chain-of-custody is required (forensic, employment, or legal testing).
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings1
Frequently asked questions
How long do benzodiazepines stay in urine?
Will a positive result mean I'm taking too much?
Can my prescription medications cause a positive result?
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Can foods or drinks affect the test results?
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