Barbiturates, Quantitative Confirmation, Serum

Use

This definitive drug assay is used to confirm presumptive positive results and identify the specific barbiturates in serum. Urine and oral fluid are the specimens of choice for routine monitoring of patients taking prescription drugs. Use of serum/plasma should be limited to anuretic patients, or where a patient’s clinical appearance does not coincide with their prescribed medications. Barbiturates are a group of central nervous system (CNS) depressants that are used as sedatives, hypnotics, anesthetics, and anticonvulsants. Because barbiturates have a low therapeutic index and high abuse potential, they have been largely replaced by benzodiazepines for sedative and hypnotic purposes. Measurement of barbiturates in serum is helpful in the diagnosis and management of barbiturate intoxication as well as monitoring therapy. Immunoassays are usually used to screen for barbiturate intoxication; positive screening results can then be confirmed with quantitative chromatography/mass spectrometry testing. The results of this test should be interpreted in the context of pertinent clinical history and physical examination findings. References: Porter WH. Clinical toxiology... and DEA Drug fact sheet: Barbiturates.