Catecholamines Fractionated, Urine Free
| Sunquest Code: | UCATE | ||
| Epic Code: | LAB3820 | Epic Name: | Catecholamines Fractionated Free Urine |
| Methodology: | High performance liquid chromatography/Tandem mass spectrometry | ||
| Test Includes: | Dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine | ||
| Turnaround Time: | Specimens are sent to reference laboratory Mon-Sat; results are reported in 1-4 days. | ||
| Compliance: | This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This test was performed in a CLIA certified laboratory and is intended for clinical purposes. |
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Collection Instructions
| Specimen: | Urine, 24 hour collection or random. Refrigerate during collection. |
| Optimal Volume: | Submit entire 24 hour collection; analysis requires 2.5 mL |
| Container: | 3 L plastic jug (Plastic leakproof container, sterile) |
| Patient Preparation: | Abstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection. |
Processing and Shipping
| Specimen Processing: | Catecholamines are not stable above pH 7. The pH of these samples must be adjusted by the addition of acid prior to transport. A pH of less than 2 can cause assay interference. Mix collection well before aliquot is taken. Aliquot 4 mL, 2.5 mL minimum. Alternately, aliquot sample into an ARUP Standard Transport Tube containing 20 mg sulfamic acid available through ARUP Connect or ARUP Client Services. Store refrigerated. Record total volume and collection time interval on transport vial and test request form. |
| Shipping Instructions: | Ship refrigerated. |
| Stability: | Unpreserved: 1 week refrigerated; frozen undefined.
Preserved: 1 month refrigerated; 6 months frozen. |
| Test Performed at or Referral Lab | Lab Sendouts (ARUP) |
| Referral Lab number: | 80407 |
Interpretive
| Reference Range: |
The urine catecholamines to creatinine ratios will be reported whenever the patient is under 18 years, the urine collection is random or other than 24 hours, or the urine volume is less than 400 mL/24 hours. Mass per day (mg or ug) calculations are not reported when the urine collection is random or other than 24 hours, or the urine volume is less than 400 mL/24 hours.
Random Specimens: Report in terms of creatinine ratio. Note: Secreting neuroendocrine tumors are typically associated with catecholamine concentrations several times higher than the upper reference intervals. Large elevations can also be seen in life-threatening illnesses and drug interferences. Smaller increases in catecholamine concentrations (less than two times the upper limit) usually are the result of physiological stimuli drugs or improper specimen collection. Significant elevation of one or both catecholamines (3 or more times the upper reference limit) is associated with an increased probability of a neuroendocrine tumor. |
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| Use: | Large elevations in urine catecholamines also can be seen in life-threatening illnesses due to drug interference, although the effects of drugs on catecholamine results may not be predictable. Refer also to Catecholamines, Plasma, (Epinephrine, Norepinephrine and Dopamine). |
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