Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
TUMOR MARKER.
Synonyms/Aliases
FRACTIONATED METANEPHRINES, PLASMA; PLASMA METANEPHRINES.
Abbreviations
N/A.
Type
PROFILE/ PANEL (BUNDLED TESTS).
10 Days
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 10 WORKING DAYS.
Method
CHROMATOGRAPHY.
Temp
FROZEN (PREFERRED). AMBIENT/ ROOM TEMPERATURE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Setup
BATCHED.
Components Parameters
NORMETANEPHRINE & METANEPHRINE.
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 METANEPHRINE 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 IMMEDIATELY SEPARATED FROM EDTA WHOLE BLOOD AND FROZEN. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.
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.
Other Instructions
PROTECT FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
Reference intervals
AGE & GENDER APPROPRIATE VALUES ARE PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
METANEPHRINES ARE METABOLITES OF CATECHOLAMINES. EVALUATION OF HYPERTENSION AND CATECHOLAMINE SECRETING TUMOURS LIKE PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA, NEUROBLASTOMA AND 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.