CPT® Code 80346

The CPT® Code 80346 refers to a laboratory test specifically designed to measure the presence of benzodiazepines in various biological specimens, including stool, urine, serum, or plasma. Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs that exhibit a range of effects, including sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing), anti-convulsant, and muscle relaxant properties. Some benzodiazepines, particularly those that are short-acting, may also have amnesic-dissociative effects. These medications are commonly prescribed for a variety of conditions, such as anxiety disorders, panic disorders, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and seizures. Additionally, they may be utilized in medical settings as preoperative or intra-operative anesthesia to help manage patient anxiety and sedation during surgical procedures. The test for benzodiazepines can be performed on different types of samples: blood samples are typically obtained through venipuncture, urine samples can be collected via random voiding or catheterization, and meconium stool samples may be collected from a diaper. The testing methodologies employed include quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for serum, plasma, and meconium, while urine samples are analyzed using quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The specific code 80346 is applicable when testing for the presence of 1 to 12 different benzodiazepines, whereas code 80347 is designated for tests identifying 13 or more benzodiazepines.