Catecholamines, Fractionated, 24-Hour Urine without Creatinine

Test Code

LAB373

Quest Code

318X

Alias/See Also

UCT24
CATEU

CPT Codes
82384

Includes

Dopamine, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Calculated Total (E + NE)

CPT code 81050 may be added at an additional charge for volume measurement

Preferred Specimen

10 mL from a 24-hour urine collection preserved with 25 mL 6N HCl

Patient Preparation
It is preferable for the patient to be off medications for a minimum of 18-24 hours prior to collection. However, common antihypertensives (diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, alpha and beta blockers) may cause minimal or no interference.
Patient should avoid tobacco, tea, coffee, and strenuous exercise for 8-12 hours prior to collection.

Minimum Volume

5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Aliquot from a 24-hour urine, unpreserved, with a pH ≤6, collected in a plastic 24-hour urine container

Instructions

Collect 24-hour urine with 25 mL 6N HCL to maintain a pH ≤3. If no preservative is used, specimen must be stored refrigerated during collection but shipped frozen and pH must be ≤6.
Record 24-hour urine volume and patient's age on test request form and on urine container.

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

If preserved:

Room temperature: 7 days

Refrigerated: 30 days

Frozen: 49 days

If unpreserved:

Refrigerated: 30 days

Frozen: 49 days

(Room temperature Unacceptable)

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Preserved urine received refrigerated with pH >3 • Unpreserved urine received frozen with pH >6

Methodology
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

FDA Status
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by FDA. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Setup Schedule

Night 5 days a week

Limitations

Recent surgery, traumatic injury, upright posture, cold, anxiety, pain, clonidine withdrawal, and concurrent acute or chronic illness may produce elevated results.

Reference Range

Epinephrine, 24 hr Urine

3-8 Years	1-7 mcg/24 h
9-12 Years	≤8 mcg/24 h
13-17 Years	≤11 mcg/24 h
>17 Years	2-24 mcg/24 h

Norepinephrine, 24 hr Urine

3-8 Years	5-41 mcg/24 h
9-12 Years	5-50 mcg/24 h
13-17 Years	12-88 mcg/24 h
>17 Years	15-100 mcg/24 h

Calculated Total (E + NE)

3-8 Years	9-51 mcg/24 h
9-12 Years	9-71 mcg/24 h
13-17 Years	13-90 mcg/24 h
>17 Years	26-121 mcg/24 h

Dopamine, 24 hr Urine

3-8 Years	80-378 mcg/24 h
9-12 Years	51-474 mcg/24 h
13-17 Years	51-645 mcg/24 h
>17 Years	52-480 mcg/24 h

Clinical Significance

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.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
33608 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92690-6130

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.