Chlordiazepoxide

CPT: 80299
Print Share

Synonyms

  • Librium®

Test Includes

Chlordiazepoxide and metabolites; demoxepam; N-desmethylchlordiazepoxide; N-desmethyldiazepam


Expected Turnaround Time

3 - 5 days


Related Documents


Specimen Requirements


Specimen

Serum or plasma


Volume

1 mL


Minimum Volume

0.4 mL


Container

Red-top tube, lavender-top (EDTA) tube, or green-top (heparin) tube. Do not use a gel-barrier tube. The use of gel-barrier tubes is not recommended due to slow absorption of the drug by the gel. Depending on the specimen volume and storage time, the decrease in drug level due to absorption may be clinically significant.


Collection

Transfer separated serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube. Oral: peak: four hours; trough: immediately prior to next dose.


Storage Instructions

Refrigerate.


Causes for Rejection

Gel-barrier tube


Test Details


Use

Evaluate toxicity; monitor therapeutic levels


Limitations

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Labcorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.


Methodology

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS)


Additional Information

This drug is commonly used in suicide attempts. Chlordiazepoxide is slowly absorbed and may take several hours to reach a peak plasma level. Distribution after intramuscular administration is poor. Drug half-life in blood ranges from 16 to 27 hours. The drug is highly (90%) protein bound. Overdosage with the benzodiazepines is frequent, but serious sequelae are rare; however, there is an additive effect when used with other CNS depressants (eg, ethanol). If a patient is comatose after a drug ingestion, chlordiazepoxide alone is not a sufficient explanation. Metabolism results in the production of four active metabolites. This drug is used as an antianxiety agent for treatment of withdrawal symptoms of acute alcoholism.

Half-life elimination: 6.9 to 28 hours

Time to peak: 0.5 to 2 hours


References

American Medical Association. Division of Drugs and Toxicology. Drug Evaluations Subscription. Chicago, Ill: AMA; Summer 1991.
Drug Information Handbook. 24th ed. Hudson, OH: Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc; 2015; 422.
Hiemke C, Baumann P, Bergemann N, Conca A, et al. AAGNP consensus guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring in psychiatry: Update 2011. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2011 Sep; 44(6):195-235. 22053351

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
007682 Chlordiazepoxide, Serum 79162-4 019661 Chlordiazepoxide, S ug/mL 3457-9
007682 Chlordiazepoxide, Serum 79162-4 019679 Norchlordiazepoxide ug/mL 9776-6
007682 Chlordiazepoxide, Serum 79162-4 019687 Nordiazepam, Serum ug/mL 3537-8
007682 Chlordiazepoxide, Serum 79162-4 019689 Sum of Metabolites ug/mL 33060-5

For Providers

Please login to order a test

Order a Test

© 2021 Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings and Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CPT Statement/Profile Statement

The LOINC® codes are copyright © 1994-2021, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee. Permission is granted in perpetuity, without payment of license fees or royalties, to use, copy, or distribute the LOINC® codes for any commercial or non-commercial purpose, subject to the terms under the license agreement found at https://loinc.org/license/. Additional information regarding LOINC® codes can be found at LOINC.org, including the LOINC Manual, which can be downloaded at LOINC.org/downloads/files/LOINCManual.pdf