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CATECHOLAMINES, RANDOM URINE
Number 1236
CPT Code 82384
Alias DOPAMINE, EPINEPHRINE, CATECHOLAMINES, NOREPINEPHRINE, FRACTIONATION
Specimen Container Plastic Screw Cap Vial
Specimen Type Urine
Turn Around Time 
Days Performed 
Reference Range Contact Laboratory
Alternate Specimen 
Volume 10 mL Urine
Stability Ambient 3 Days
Stability Refrigerated 14 Days
Stability Frozen 30 Days
Patient Preparation 

Avoid patient stress. Many drugs (reserpine and alpha methyldopa, levodopa, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and sympathomimetic amines) may interfere and should be discontinued two weeks prior to specimen collection. Nose drops, sinus and cough medicines, bronchodilators and appetite suppressants, α2-agonists, calcium channel blockers, converting enzyme inhibitors, bromocriptine, phenothiazine, tricyclic antidepressants, α- and β-blockers, and labetalol may interfere.1 Mandelamine® interferes, but thiazides do not. Caffeine products should be avoided before and during collection. The patient should not be subjected to hypoglycemia or exertion. Increased intracranial pressure and clonidine withdrawal can cause false-positive results.

Methodology 

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS)

Limitations 

False-negatives and false-positives occur. Since a 24-hour urine collection represents a longer sampling time than a random, or symptom-directed serum sample, and because catecholamine secretion by pheochromocytomas is intermittent, the 24-hour urine test may detect some cases missed by a blood or random urine level.

Rejection Criteria 

Specimen with no preservative; original container with pH >5

Additional Instructions 

Adjust pH to <5 with 6N HCl.

Performing Laboratory Reference Laboratory
TagsCATECHOLAMINES, FRACTIONATED, RANDOM URINE