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Test Code CATU Catecholamine Fractionation, Free, 24 Hour, Urine

Reporting Name

Catecholamine Fract, Free, U

Useful For

An auxiliary test to fractionated plasma and urine metanephrine measurements in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

 

An auxiliary test to urine vanillylmandelic acid and homovanillic acid determination in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with neuroblastoma and related tumors

 

This test is not useful as a first-line test for pheochromocytoma.

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Urine


Ordering Guidance


This assay is of greatest value when the specimen is collected during a hypertensive episode.

 

Do not perform the test on patients withdrawing from legal or illegal drugs known to cause rebound catecholamine release during withdrawal (see Cautions).

 

This test is not a first-line test for pheochromocytoma. The recommended first-line laboratory tests for pheochromocytoma are PMET / Metanephrines, Fractionated, Free, Plasma; and METAF / Metanephrines, Fractionated, 24 Hour, Urine.



Necessary Information


24-Hour volume (in milliliters) is required.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation:

1. If medically feasible, discontinue drugs that release or hinder metabolism of epinephrine, norepinephrine, or dopamine for at least 1 week prior to specimen collection (see Cautions for details). If this is not possible for medical reasons, contact the laboratory to discuss whether a shorter drug-withdrawal period may be acceptable.

2. Unless the reason for testing is drug monitoring, the patient should stop any epinephrine, norepinephrine, or dopamine injections or infusions for at least 12 hours prior to specimen collection. 

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Add 25 mL of 50% acetic acid as preservative at start of collection. Use 15 mL of 50% acetic acid for children younger than 5 years old. This preservative is intended to achieve a pH of between approximately 2 and 4.

2. Collect urine for 24 hours.

Additional Information: See Urine Preservatives-Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens for multiple collections.


Specimen Minimum Volume

1.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Frozen  28 days

Reference Values

Norepinephrine <1 year: <11 mcg/24 h

1 year: 1-17 mcg/24 h

2-3 years: 4-29 mcg/24 h

4-6 years: 8-45 mcg/24 h

7-9 years: 13-65 mcg/24 h

≥10 years: 15-80 mcg/24 h

 

Epinephrine

<1 year: <2.6 mcg/24 h

1 year: <3.6 mcg/24 h

2-3 years: <6.1 mcg/24 h

4-9 years: 0.2-10.0 mcg/24 h

10-15 years: 0.5-20.0 mcg/24 h

≥16 years: <21 mcg/24 h

 

Dopamine

<1 year: <86 mcg/24 h

1 year: 10-140 mcg/24 h

2-3 years: 40-260 mcg/24 h

≥4 years: 65-400 mcg/24 h

 

For International System of Units (SI) conversion for Reference Values, see www.mayocliniclabs.com/order-tests/si-unit-conversion.html.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

82384

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
CATU Catecholamine Fract, Free, U 92938-0

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
TM48 Collection Duration (h) 13362-9
VL46 Volume (mL) 3167-4
2106 Norepinephrine 2668-2
2107 Epinephrine 2232-7
2108 Dopamine 2218-6

Report Available

2 to 5 days

Reject Due To

  All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Urine Preservative Collection Options

Preservative must be added at the start of the collection.

 

Ambient (no additive)

No

Refrigerate (no additive)

No

Frozen (no additive)

No

50% Acetic Acid

Preferred

Boric Acid

OK

Diazolidinyl Urea

No

6M Hydrochloric Acid

OK

6M Nitric Acid

OK

Sodium Carbonate

No

Toluene

No

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Oncology Test Request (T729) with the specimen.