Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
TUMOR MARKER
Synonyms/Aliases
FRACTIONATED CATECHOLAMINES, 24 HR URINE.
Abbreviations
N/A
Type
PROFILE/ PANEL (BUNDLED TESTS)
Results
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 10 - 14 DAYS
Method
CHROMATOGRAPHY
Temp
FROZEN (PREFERRED) OR REFRIGERATED.
Setup
BATCHED.
Components Parameters
EPINEPHRINE (ADRENALINE) & NOREPINEPHRINE (NORADRENALINE).
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. TOTAL VOLUME OF COLLECTED 24 HOUR URINE IS REQUIRED. PROVIDE CLINICAL HISTORY & PATIENT'S CURRENT DRUG HISTORY. DISCONTINUE ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IF FEASIBLE (MULTIPLE DRUGS CAN INCREASE OR DECREASE CATECHOLAMINE LEVELS; CONSULT PATHOLOGIST IF IN DOUBT).
Patient preparation
ACCURATELY TIMED 24 HOUR COLLECTION (E.G. 6A.M., DAY 1 TO 6A.M., DAY 2) IS CRUCIAL FOR RESULT ACCURACY. COLLECT URINE IN A CLEAN WIDE MOUTH CONTAINER & TRANSFER ENTIRE COLLECTION INTO THE CONTAINER THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE LAB. REFRIGERATE DURING COLLECTION. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN (CONTAINS CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES). DO NOT CONSUME FOODS RICH IN SEROTONIN (E.G. BANANAS, PINEAPPLE, CEREALS, POTATOES, COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE, VANILLA ETC.) FOR 72 HOURS PRIOR TO SAMPLE COLLECTION. AVOID STRENUOUS EXERCISE.
Sample type
24 HOUR URINE.
Container/ preservative
CLEAN CONTAINER WITH 10ML OF 6N HCL PRESERVATIVE ISSUED BY THE LAB.
Sample volume
10ML ALIQUOT OF 24 HOUR URINE. ORIGINAL (TOTAL) VOLUME IN ML MUST BE SPECIFIED ON THE REQUEST FORM.
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE; 24 HOUR URINE VOLUME NOT PROVIDED.
Other Instructions
NOT APPLICABLE
Reference intervals
APPROPRIATE VALUES ARE PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
CATECHOLAMINE TESTS ARE MOST OFTEN USED TO DIAGNOSE OR RULE OUT CERTAIN TYPES OF RARE TUMORS, INCLUDING: PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA, NEUROBLASTOMA, PARAGANGLIOMA
Test Limitations/ Confounders
DIETARY & DRUG INTERFERENCE CAN OCCUR. RESULTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE CORRELATED WITH CLINICAL FINDINGS & RESULTS OF OTHER DIAGNOSTIC WORK-UP E.G. IMAGING, TISSUE BIOPSY FINDINGS.