Barbiturates (BAR) Test urine

A barbiturates urine test may be ordered for:

• Random workplace testing
• Return-to-duty testing
• Post-accident testing
• Pre-employment testing
• Follow-up testing for drug abuse or toxicity

Your doctor may also order the test if they observe signs of drug abuse. These signs are listed as follows:

• Paranoia (irrational suspicion or distrust)
• Agitation
• Panic
• Delirium
• Trouble breathing
• Slurred or slowed speech
• Small or dilated pupils
• Fluctuations in heart rhythm and blood pressure
• Nausea

Though barbiturates show up in both urine or blood, a urine test is noninvasive and much easier to perform. Also, barbiturates can be detected for much longer in the urine - up to two to four hours of intake until one to three weeks after use. While it can only be found for up to 52 hours of intake in the blood.

You do not require much preparation before this test. Let the doctor know if you are taking any prescription or non-prescription drugs or supplements. This is because some of the medicines and supplements may interfere with the testing protocol and give false-positive results.

Your doctor or nurse will first explain the test and the procedure to you. A person from the same gender may be assigned to you so you don’t tamper with the sample. The following steps are typically followed:

• First, make sure your hands are washed and clean
• Now, clean your genital area to make sure that you get a clean sample. For the same reason, it is recommended that you first start urinating into the toilet bowl and then collect the rest of the urine into the given container 
• Return the filled container to the facility as soon as possible

Normal results:

A normal result in the BAR test is generally reported as negative. This means that there are no barbiturates found in your urine sample or the amount found was below the cut-off value - the threshold value for a drug in the body. The cut-off value for all formulations of barbiturates in the urine is 100ng/ml - values below the cut off range are considered normal. 

Abnormal results:

An abnormal result in the BAR test is reported as positive. This means that the sample you submitted has higher than normal barbiturate levels. Depending on the amount detected, your doctor will decide if it is caused by the intake of certain medicines and if the levels are considered toxic. Usually, a value above 200 ng/mL is an indicator of the use of one of the formulations of barbiturates.

An abnormal result does not always mean drug usage; it could be a false-positive result. False-positive results can be due to cold and cough medicines, antibiotic therapy or ibuprofen intake. Please speak to your doctor to know the precise implications of your results.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.