Do Benzodiazepines Show Up on a Drug Test? Xanax, Klonopin and More

Short answer: most do, but not all equally. Nearly every multi-panel cup includes a benzodiazepine (BZO) panel. However, instant BZO tests detect some benzos much better than others, and a few commonly prescribed ones are often missed.

Which benzos show up well, and which do not

Medication Detected by an instant BZO test?
Diazepam (Valium) Usually detected well
Alprazolam (Xanax) Usually detected
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) Usually detected
Clonazepam (Klonopin) Often missed at standard cutoffs
Lorazepam (Ativan) Often missed at standard cutoffs

The reason is chemistry: BZO immunoassays are designed around certain benzodiazepine compounds, and some medications break down into forms the test does not pick up well. If you specifically need to detect clonazepam or lorazepam, use a laboratory test.

How long do benzos stay in urine?

  • Short-acting benzos (such as alprazolam): about 1 to 4 days.
  • Long-acting benzos (such as diazepam): up to about 10 days, and several weeks with long-term use.

See our full detection times chart.

Prescriptions and positives

Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for anxiety, panic disorder, seizures and sleep. Ask donors about current prescriptions, and confirm any preliminary positive with a laboratory test before taking action. A lab can also identify which benzodiazepine is present.

Cutoff level

Our BZO tests use a 300 ng/mL cutoff. Read more about cutoff levels.

Benzodiazepine (BZO) Test Strips

BZO · 300 ng/mL

FDA cleared and CLIA waived single-drug test.

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12 Panel CLIA Waived Cup

AMP · BAR · BUP · BZO · COC · FYL · MDMA · MET · MTD · OPI · OXY · THC

BZO plus 11 other tests in a CLIA waived cup.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Xanax show up on a drug test?

Yes. Alprazolam is usually detected by the BZO panel, typically for about 1 to 4 days.

Does Klonopin show up on a drug test?

It is often missed by instant BZO tests at standard cutoffs. Use a lab test if you need to detect clonazepam.

How long does Valium stay in urine?

Up to about 10 days, and longer with long-term use, because diazepam is long-acting.

Do all drug test cups include benzodiazepines?

Almost all multi-panel cups include a BZO panel, including every cup we sell.

Related guides

Instant urine tests give preliminary results. Confirm any preliminary positive with a laboratory test (such as GC/MS) before taking action. Always follow the package insert.