Barbiturates represent a class of commonly abused central nervous system depressants. They are usually administered orally but are sometimes injected intramuscularly and intravenously. Before the ultimate inactivation of the compound in the liver, 30-40% binds to plasma proteins, and the rest is distributed in various tissues.
Barbiturates range from short-acting (approximately 15 minutes, such as pentobarbital and secobarbital) to long-acting (24 hours or longer, such as phenobarbital).
Short-acting barbiturates are extensively metabolized in the body, while the long-acting ones are secreted primarily unchanged.
Standard reference methods for detection of barbiturates include gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), thin-layer chromatography, ultraviolet spectroscopy, radioimmunoassay, and enzyme immunoassay; GC/MS is usually preferred as the confirmation method.
One Step Barbital Urine Test is a rapid, qualitative, competitive binding immunoassay for the determination of Barbital in urine at or above the cut-off level of 300ng/ml.
This test is not intended to monitor drug levels, but only to screen urine for the presence of Barbital and its metabolites.
