Benzodiazepine Assay Identifies Specific Analytes or Their Metabolites

Benzodiazepines are the second leading drug class for prescription nonadherence, following opioids.

According to a recent study conducted by the West Virginia School of Medicine, hospitalizations for poisonings from overdoses of prescription opioids, sedatives, and tranquilizers have increased 65 %. The largest increase in hospitalizations was caused by the commonly prescribed drug class of benzodiazepines.

Dominion Diagnostics (North Kingstown, RI, USA) introduced a highly specific quantitative benzodiazepine assay performed by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The increased sensitivity, specificity, and throughput of this method results in a high analytical standard in urine drug monitoring. The company previously introduced quantitative assays for codeine, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and fentanyl by UPLC-MS/MS.

By identifying specific analytes and/or their metabolites in the commonly prescribed benzodiazepine class, the assay enables practitioners to identify patients who may be nonadherent to current prescription regimens or are reluctant to reveal prescriptions from other practitioners quickly and accurately. Thus, the new benzodiazepine assay will help reduce hospitalizations and physician liability resulting from unintentional drug poisonings.

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