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Catecholamines, Fractionated, Plasma : 314
Test CodeCATEQ or 314
Alias/See Also
Adrenaline, Catecholamines, Free, Dopamine, Epinephrine, Noradrenaline, Norepinephrine
CPT Codes
82384
Includes
Includes: Dopamine, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine and Total Catecholamines (calculated)
Instructions
Patients should be relaxed in either a supine or upright position before blood is drawn. States of anxiety and stress can cause fluctuations in the catecholamine levels. Draw specimen in a pre-chilled sodium heparin (green-top tube) or EDTA (lavender-top) tube. Patient should avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and strenuous exercise prior to collection. Overnight fasting is preferred.
After drawing specimen, immediately Centrifuge 20 minutes 1000xg and aliquot into transport tube. The plasma must be free of RBC's. Freeze to transport.
After drawing specimen, immediately Centrifuge 20 minutes 1000xg and aliquot into transport tube. The plasma must be free of RBC's. Freeze to transport.
Transport Container
Preferred Specimen
2 mL plasma collected in a sodium heparin (green-top) tube
Alternative Specimen
Plasma collected in EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
1 mL
2 mL plasma collected in a sodium heparin (green-top) tube
Alternative Specimen
Plasma collected in EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
1 mL
Transport Temperature
Frozen.
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 6 hours; Refrigerated: 6 hours; Frozen: 30 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Received room temperature; Received refrigerated
Methodology
Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Setup Schedule
Monday - Saturday
Report Available
2-4 days (From receipt at performing laboratory)
Reference Range
Catecholamines, Total:
> or = 18 years:
Epinephrine Supine: <58 pg/mL
Upright: <82 pg/mL
Norepinephrine Supine: 149-564 pg/mL
Upright: 199-937 pg/mL
Dopamine Supine: <16 pg/mL
Upright: <27 pg/mL
Total (N+E+D) Supine: <632 pg/mL
Upright: <1046 pg/mL
< 18 years:
No Reference Range Available
> or = 18 years:
Epinephrine Supine: <58 pg/mL
Upright: <82 pg/mL
Norepinephrine Supine: 149-564 pg/mL
Upright: 199-937 pg/mL
Dopamine Supine: <16 pg/mL
Upright: <27 pg/mL
Total (N+E+D) Supine: <632 pg/mL
Upright: <1046 pg/mL
< 18 years:
No Reference Range Available
Clinical Significance
Catecholamines, Fractionated, Plasma -
This panel may aid in evaluating catecholamine-producing pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). However, measurements of plasma free or urinary fractionated metanephrines (ie, the O-methylated catecholamine metabolites) are preferred for the initial biochemical evaluation of PPGLs because of their overall high diagnostic sensitivity.
Most PPGLs secrete catecholamines and can cause catecholamine excess, resulting in hypertension, arrhythmia, and hyperglycemia. Left untreated, PPGLs often lead to life-threatening cardiovascular complications. The estimated prevalence of PPGLs is 0.05% to 0.1% in adults with hypertension and 1.7% in children with hypertension. Recognizing the possibility of a PPGL and performing appropriate biochemical testing are crucial for the diagnosis. Plasma or urine catecholamine levels may be used, in addition to metanephrine levels, to provide additional information during the initial biochemical evaluation of PPGLs (eg, when detecting dopamine-secreting paragangliomas).
Intermittent or insignificant secretion of catecholamines by some PPGLs may not increase catecholamine measurements. Physiological stress and certain medications (eg, acetaminophen, labetalol, and sotalol) may increase catecholamine measurements.
The results of this test should be interpreted in the context of pertinent clinical and family history and physical examination findings.
This panel may aid in evaluating catecholamine-producing pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). However, measurements of plasma free or urinary fractionated metanephrines (ie, the O-methylated catecholamine metabolites) are preferred for the initial biochemical evaluation of PPGLs because of their overall high diagnostic sensitivity.
Most PPGLs secrete catecholamines and can cause catecholamine excess, resulting in hypertension, arrhythmia, and hyperglycemia. Left untreated, PPGLs often lead to life-threatening cardiovascular complications. The estimated prevalence of PPGLs is 0.05% to 0.1% in adults with hypertension and 1.7% in children with hypertension. Recognizing the possibility of a PPGL and performing appropriate biochemical testing are crucial for the diagnosis. Plasma or urine catecholamine levels may be used, in addition to metanephrine levels, to provide additional information during the initial biochemical evaluation of PPGLs (eg, when detecting dopamine-secreting paragangliomas).
Intermittent or insignificant secretion of catecholamines by some PPGLs may not increase catecholamine measurements. Physiological stress and certain medications (eg, acetaminophen, labetalol, and sotalol) may increase catecholamine measurements.
The results of this test should be interpreted in the context of pertinent clinical and family history and physical examination findings.
Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics
