Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test
A urine test to detect the presence of benzodiazepines, a class of commonly prescribed medications for anxiety and sleep disorders.
{"This test checks if benzodiazepine medications are present in your urine","It is commonly used for medication monitoring or substance abuse screening","Results are reported as positive or negative based on a threshold of 200 ng/mL","False positives can occur with certain medications or supplements","A positive result does not indicate dosage or impairment level"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 70141-7
- Short code
- BENZ-UR
- Synonyms
- Benzodiaz Ur Ql Scn>200 ng/mL
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- urine
- Container
- Sterile, leak-proof urine collection container (plastic screw-cap cup) without preservative. For forensic or chain-of-custody testing, use tamper-evident container with chain-of-custody documentation.
- Units
- N/A
- Critical range
- — – 200 N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- screen-ng-ml
- CPT
- 80307
- SNOMED
- 272147009
- Specimen volume
- 30-50 mL of random urine; minimum 10 mL required for analysis
- Stability
- Room temperature (15-25°C): up to 24 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): up to 7 days; Frozen (-20°C or below): up to 30 days for prolonged storage. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 1–24 hours
- Order
- routine
A complete blood count, or CBC, is a common blood test that measures the different cells in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, to give your doctor a broad picture of your overall health.
The Benzodiazepine urine screen is a diagnostic 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). This screening test uses a threshold of 200 ng/mL to determine if the result is positive or negative.
Your doctor may order this test as part of a routine checkup, to help find the cause of symptoms such as fatigue, fever, weakness, or unusual bruising, or to monitor an existing condition like anemia, infection, or a blood disorder over time.
This test may be ordered for several reasons: to monitor patient compliance with prescribed benzodiazepine therapy, to detect possible drug misuse or abuse, as part of a routine drug screening for employment or legal purposes, or to help diagnose suspected overdose. Healthcare providers may also use this test to ensure patients are taking their medications as prescribed.
A healthcare professional will draw a small sample of blood, usually from a vein in your arm or the inside of your elbow. The sample is sent to a laboratory, where it is analyzed to count and measure your blood cells. The procedure usually takes only a few minutes.
A urine sample is collected in a sterile container. The sample is then analyzed using immunoassay screening methods that can detect the presence of benzodiazepines or their metabolites. If the initial screen is positive, confirmatory testing may be performed using more specific methods like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to verify the results.
Your results show whether your blood cell counts fall within the normal range. Low red blood cells may suggest anemia, high white blood cells can point to infection or inflammation, and abnormal platelet levels may affect clotting. Your doctor will review the numbers with you and explain what they mean in your situation.
Results are typically reported as either positive (above 200 ng/mL) or negative (below 200 ng/mL). A positive result indicates that benzodiazepines or their breakdown products were detected in your urine. However, this test does not indicate how much of the drug was taken or whether a person is impaired. The test also cannot distinguish between different types of benzodiazepines. Certain medications, including some antidepressants and anticonvulsants, may cause false-positive results.
This test is very safe. You may feel a brief sting when the needle goes in, and the site may be slightly sore or bruised for a day or two. Serious complications are rare. Tell your provider if you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, and mention any medicines or supplements you use.
This test involves minimal risks, primarily related to the urine collection process. There is a possibility of false-positive or false-negative results. False positives may occur with certain prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, or food supplements. It is important to inform your healthcare provider about all medications and supplements you are taking. The detection window in urine is typically longer than in blood, potentially showing use from several days to weeks prior, depending on the specific drug and individual metabolism.
Reference range
Negative (Not Detected). A positive result indicates benzodiazepine presence above the 200 ng/mL screening threshold. Positive screening results require confirmation by mass spectrometry (GC-MS or LC-MS/MS).N/A
No special preparation required. Patients should be advised that many commonly prescribed benzodiazepines (alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, clonazepam, temazepam, midazolam, oxazepam, nitrazepam, flunitrazepam) and their metabolites are detected by this assay. Collection should be observed in forensic or workplace drug testing scenarios. Patients should inform the laboratory of all prescription medications to aid in result interpretation.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
The benzodiazepine urine screen serves important clinical purposes in medication management and substance abuse monitoring. It helps healthcare providers verify patient compliance with prescribed benzodiazepine therapy, which is crucial given the potential for dependence and abuse of these medications. The test is also valuable in emergency settings for evaluating suspected overdose cases, as benzodiazepines are commonly involved in drug-related emergencies. In addiction medicine, this screening helps identify patients who may be misusing multiple substances. However, interpretation requires careful clinical correlation, as a positive result alone cannot determine impairment or therapeutic efficacy.
Frequently asked questions
How long do benzodiazepines stay detectable in urine?
Will a prescription for benzodiazepines cause a positive result?
Can the test distinguish between different benzodiazepines?
Can any medications cause a false positive result?
Do I need to fast or prepare in any way for 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 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy