Catecholamines, Urine

Overview

  • EPIC Code:
  • MISC
  • Soft Test Code:
  • MSOT
  • Send Out Test Code:
  • 5244
Included Tests

Creatinine, Dopamine, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, and Total Catecholamines (calculated)


Clinical Significance

Catecholamines, Fractionated, Random Urine - The three catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine) are the principal secretory products of neural tissue. Clinically, the measurement of circulating catecholamines is valuable in the diagnosis of catecholamine secreting tumors associated chiefly with hypertension (pheochromocytomas, neuroblastomas, and gangliomas) and with the evaluation of orthostatic hypotension. 


Specimen Collection & Preparation

Patient Preparation

It is preferable for the patient to be off medications for 3 days before specimen 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 before collection.


Specimen Requirements

10.0 mL Urine in a Plastic Container


Alternate Specimen

10 mL urine with 6N HCl collected in a plastic, urine container
After urine collection, add 0.5-1.0g/L of 6N HCL to maintain PH below 3.

  • Preserved
  • Room temperature: 7 days
  • Refrigerated: 7 days
  • Frozen: 28 days (Transport)
Rejection - pH >3.0 and received unfrozen 


TransportAndStorage

Unacceptable Ambient
7 days Refrigerated
28 days Frozen (Transport)


Collection Instructions

Urine with preservative should maintain a pH below 3.

Please specify on the request form and on the urine container random urine volume and time of collection


Minimum Volume

5.0 mL Urine


Neonatal Volumne

Clinical Interpretation

Reference Range:

Refer to Interpretive Results


Methodology:
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Clinical Significance

Catecholamines, Fractionated, Random Urine - The three catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine) are the principal secretory products of neural tissue. Clinically, the measurement of circulating catecholamines is valuable in the diagnosis of catecholamine secreting tumors associated chiefly with hypertension (pheochromocytomas, neuroblastomas, and gangliomas) and with the evaluation of orthostatic hypotension. 


Production Schedule

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

2 days


Coding & Compliance

CDM

00913333


CPT Coding

82384, 82570