Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
TUMOR MARKER
Synonyms/Aliases
FRACTIONATED CATECHOLAMINES, PLASMA.
Abbreviations
N/A
Type
PROFILE/ PANEL (BUNDLED TESTS)
Results
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 10 - 14 DAYS
Method
CHROMATOGRAPHY
Temp
FROZEN ONLY. AMBIENT AND REFRIGERATED TEMPERATURE UNACCEPTABLE.
Setup
BATCHED.
Components Parameters
EPINEPHRINE (ADRENALINE) & NOREPINEPHRINE (NORADRENALINE).
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. 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
DISCONTINUE HYPERTENSION RELATED MEDICATION (TO BE DECIDED BY ATTENDING DR/ CLINICIAN). 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
EDTA PLASMA
Container/ preservative
EDTA (PURPLE TOP) VACUTAINER
Sample volume
2ML EDTA PLASMA
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE; UNFROZEN SAMPLES,
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE EDTA WHOLE BLOOD IMMEDIATELY, SEPARATE PLASMA AND FREEZE.
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.