Benzodiazepines, Urine Screen UDRG4

• Urine specimens may be collected in plastic (i.e., polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene) or glass containers. Some plastics, other than those listed, can adsorb certain drugs.
• If not analyzed immediately, specimens may be stored at room temperature at 15 - 25^o C for up to 7 days following collection. After 7 days, specimens should be stored frozen at <= -20^o C. Frozen specimens must be completely thawed and mixed thoroughly prior to analysis.
• Specimens with high turbidity should be centrifuged before analysis. The recommended pH range for urine specimens is 3.0 - 11.0. Adulteration of the urine specimen may cause erroneous results. If adulteration is suspected, obtain another specimen. Human urine specimens should be handled and treated as if they are potentially infectious.

Benzodiazepines are sedative-hypnotic drugs that are structurally similar and include widely used drugs such as chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, and oxazepam. The different benzodiazepines are absorbed at different rates, and the timing of their psychoactive effects varies with the absorption rate. Benzodiazepines are usually taken orally and are metabolized in the liver. Some benzodiazepine metabolites are pharmacologically active. Benzodiazepines may enhance the effect of other central nervous system depressants, such as ethyl alcohol.

The Emit II Plus Benzodiazepine Assay tests for benzodiazepine and benzodiazepine metabolites in human urine. The cutoff level for distinguishing positive from negative samples is 200 ng/mL.

Analytical Principle:  The Emit II Plus Benzodiazepine Assay is a homogeneous enzyme immunoassay technique used for the analysis of specific compounds in human urine.

The Emit II Plus Benzodiazepine Assay provides only a preliminary analytical test result. A more specific alternative chemical method must be used to obtain a confirmed analytical result. Gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is the preferred confirmatory method but other chemical confirmation methods are available. Clinical consideration and professional judgment should be applied to any drug of abuse test result, particularly when preliminary positive results are used.