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Catecholamines, Fractionated, 24-Hour Urine with Creatinine (39627X)
Test Code4168N
CPT Codes
82384, 82570
Includes
Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Calculated Total (E+NE), Dopamine, and Creatinine
CPT code 81050 may be added at an additional charge for volume measurement
CPT code 81050 may be added at an additional charge for volume measurement
Preferred Specimen
1 mL preserved 24-hour urine with 25 mL 6N HCl collected in a plastic 24-hour urine container
Patient Preparation
It is preferable for the patient to be off medications for three days prior to collection. However, common antihypertensives (diuretics, ACE Inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, alpha and beta blockers) cause minimal or no interference.
Patient should avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and strenuous exercise prior to collection.
Minimum Volume
0.7 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Unpreserved 24-hour urine with a pH ≤6
Instructions
Collect 24-hour urine with 25 mL of 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 urine container.
Record 24-hour urine volume and patient's age on test request form and urine container.
Transport Temperature
Frozen
Specimen Stability
Preserved urine
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 60 days
Unpreserved urine
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 60 days
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 60 days
Unpreserved urine
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 60 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Preserved urine received refrigerated with pH >3 • Unpreserved urine received frozen with pH >6
Methodology
Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS)
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
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 3-4 days
Limitations
Recent surgery, traumatic injury, upright posture, cold, anxiety, pain, clonidine withdrawal, and concurrent acute or chronic illness may produce elevated results..
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.
