Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog
CATECHOLAMINES, FRACTIONATED, RANDOM URINE
Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB1956 Geisinger Epic ID: 45920Random urine
5 mL urine (preserved per specimen processing instructions below)
This test needs immediate acidification and can only be collected at Hospital sites.
It is preferable for the patient to be off medications for 3 days before specimen 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 before collection.
Lab personnel (to be determined per site) will test the pH of the urines and adjust to less than 3.0 using 6N HCl before Referred Testing ships the specimen. Urine without preservative is acceptable if pH is below 6 and the sample is shipped frozen.
Refrigerated.
Refrigerated: 7 days. Frozen: 28 days.
Recent surgery, traumatic injury, upright posture, cold, anxiety, pain, clonidine withdrawal, and concurrent acute or chronic illness may produce elevated results.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.
Creatinine, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Dopamine, and Total Catecholamines (calculated)
Quest test code 5244, CATRU
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.