Homovanillic Acid, Urine

Overview

  • EPIC Code:
  • MISC
  • Soft Test Code:
  • MSOT
  • Send Out Test Code:
  • 21807
Alternate Names
  • Homovanillic Acid (HVA), Random Urine
  • HVA, Urine
Included Tests

Creatinine, Homovanillic Acid


Clinical Significance

Homovanillic Acid, Random Urine - HVA (Homovanillic Acid) is a metabolite of the biogenic amine, Dopamine. Monitoring of HVA levels is useful in confirming Parkinsonism, monitoring therapeutic responses to L-DOPA treatment, and in combination with VMA determinations, diagnosing persons afflicted with neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma or other "neural crest" tumors.


Specimen Collection & Preparation

Patient Preparation

It is preferable for the patient to be off medications for three days prior to collection, however, common antihypertensives (diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, alpha and beta blockers) cause minimal or no interference. Patient should avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and strenuous exercise prior to collection.


Specimen Requirements:

-OR-

10.0 mL Random Urine in sterile container
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL Urine*

* This volume does not allow for repeat testing

Processing Instructions:

After urine collection, add 6N HCl to maintain a pH < 3


Rejection Criteria:

pH > 3.0 and unfrozen


Transport and Storage:
  • Ambient: 7 Days
  • Refrigerated: 7 Days
  • Frozen (-20 C or colder): 28 Days

Clinical Interpretation

Reference Range:

Refer to Interpretive Results


Methodology:
  • Electrochemical Detection
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Clinical Significance

Homovanillic Acid, Random Urine - HVA (Homovanillic Acid) is a metabolite of the biogenic amine, Dopamine. Monitoring of HVA levels is useful in confirming Parkinsonism, monitoring therapeutic responses to L-DOPA treatment, and in combination with VMA determinations, diagnosing persons afflicted with neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma or other "neural crest" tumors.


Production Schedule

Sites Performed
  • Quest - Chantilly
Days Performed
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Departments
  • Sendouts - Miscellaneous
Turn Around Time

3 to 7 days


Coding & Compliance

CDM

00913333


CPT Coding

82570; 83150