Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Sign In
Navigate Up

22190 Catecholamine Fractionation, Urine

Catecholamine Fractionation, Urine
Test Code: CATF
Synonyms/Keywords
​Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Dopamine, Adrenaline, Catecholamines
Test Components

24 hour Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Dopamine 

For Random Urines order CAT-RND

Useful For

An auxiliary test to fractionated plasma and urine metanephrine determinations in the diagnosis and follow-up of pheochromacytoma and paraganglioma.

Specimen Requirements
Fasting RequiredSpecimen TypePreferred Container/TubeAcceptable Container/TubeSpecimen VolumeSpecimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​Urine​24 hr Urine Jug with 7 g sulfamic acid​

24 hr jug with
20 mL 6N hydrochloric acid

10 mL aliquot from well mixed 24 hour ​urine​
5 mL​3 mL​
Collection Processing Instructions
Indicate collection dates and times.  The total volume collected must be measured, recorded and included with the test request.  Urine must be preserved for the entire collection. Add acid preservative to collection jug prior to start of collection.
 
Patients should be off Sinemet (Levodopa or Carbidopa), L-Dopa, Aldomet (Methyldopa) and Methenamine Mandelate (Hiprex, Mandelamine, Urex) preferably for 1 week, but at a minimum - 48 hours prior to collection.
 
Patients should be off Buspirone (Buspar) for 72 hours before collection.

If urine was not collected for 22-26 hour duration, sample will be rejected and ordering provider notified. The appropriate test to order for samples collected of duration less than 22 hours is "Catecholamine/Creatinine Ratio, Urine" (U CAT).​

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Urine (preserved) ​​Refrigerate​1 week
​Frozen
​1 week

Rejection Criteria
Specimens that are not preserved

Urine collected for durations other than 22-26 hours​
Interference
Levodopa, Carbidopa, L-Dopa, Aldomet, Methenamine Mandelate.​
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Marshfield​

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Samples must be in the performing department by 8am on the day of testing for results the same day.

 1 day​ UPLC-MS MS (Waters TQ-S system)
Test Information
Cautions:​
  • Patient results determined by other methods may not be comparable.​
  • ​Many alterations in physiologic and pathologic states can profoundly affect catecholamine concentrations, as well as a variety of substances and drugs.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Marshfield Labs.  It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.  This test is used for clinical purposes.  It should not be regarded as investigational or for research.​

Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
Marshfield​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Adult - Norepinephrine: 13-107 ug/24 hr​
Epinephrine: 0-15ug/24 hr​
Dopamine: 20-450 ug/24 hr​
Adult normals are based upon hypertensive population​
Contact Special Chemistry for age and sex related pediatric/adolescent ranges​
Interpretation
Catecholamines can be excreted into the urine in large amounts in patients with tumors of chromaffin tissue: pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma and neuroblastomas.  Approximately 90% of all pheochromocytomas originate in the adrenal medulla and are characterized by an increased excretion of epinephrine.  Extra adrenal pheochromocytomas (paragangliomas) mainly secrete norepinephrine and can develop anywhere along the course of the sympathetic chain from the neck to the pelvis.  Children are more prone to develop a paraganglioma than are adults.  Elevated catecholamine levels can also be seen with tumors of neural origin: neuroblastomas and gangliomas.​
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
82384​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Marshfield Labs.  It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.  This test is used for clinical purposes.  It should not be regarded as investigational or for research.
Synonyms/Keywords
​Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Dopamine, Adrenaline, Catecholamines
Test Components

24 hour Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Dopamine 

For Random Urines order CAT-RND

Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Cerner ​Catecholamines Fractionated 24 Hour Urine
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting RequiredSpecimen TypePreferred Container/TubeAcceptable Container/TubeSpecimen VolumeSpecimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​Urine​24 hr Urine Jug with 7 g sulfamic acid​

24 hr jug with
20 mL 6N hydrochloric acid

10 mL aliquot from well mixed 24 hour ​urine​
5 mL​3 mL​
Collection Processing
Indicate collection dates and times.  The total volume collected must be measured, recorded and included with the test request.  Urine must be preserved for the entire collection. Add acid preservative to collection jug prior to start of collection.
 
Patients should be off Sinemet (Levodopa or Carbidopa), L-Dopa, Aldomet (Methyldopa) and Methenamine Mandelate (Hiprex, Mandelamine, Urex) preferably for 1 week, but at a minimum - 48 hours prior to collection.
 
Patients should be off Buspirone (Buspar) for 72 hours before collection.

If urine was not collected for 22-26 hour duration, sample will be rejected and ordering provider notified. The appropriate test to order for samples collected of duration less than 22 hours is "Catecholamine/Creatinine Ratio, Urine" (U CAT).​

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Urine (preserved) ​​Refrigerate​1 week
​Frozen
​1 week

Rejection Criteria
Specimens that are not preserved

Urine collected for durations other than 22-26 hours​
Interference
Levodopa, Carbidopa, L-Dopa, Aldomet, Methenamine Mandelate.​
Useful For

An auxiliary test to fractionated plasma and urine metanephrine determinations in the diagnosis and follow-up of pheochromacytoma and paraganglioma.

Test Components

24 hour Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Dopamine 

For Random Urines order CAT-RND

Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
Marshfield​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Adult - Norepinephrine: 13-107 ug/24 hr​
Epinephrine: 0-15ug/24 hr​
Dopamine: 20-450 ug/24 hr​
Adult normals are based upon hypertensive population​
Contact Special Chemistry for age and sex related pediatric/adolescent ranges​
Interpretation
Catecholamines can be excreted into the urine in large amounts in patients with tumors of chromaffin tissue: pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma and neuroblastomas.  Approximately 90% of all pheochromocytomas originate in the adrenal medulla and are characterized by an increased excretion of epinephrine.  Extra adrenal pheochromocytomas (paragangliomas) mainly secrete norepinephrine and can develop anywhere along the course of the sympathetic chain from the neck to the pelvis.  Children are more prone to develop a paraganglioma than are adults.  Elevated catecholamine levels can also be seen with tumors of neural origin: neuroblastomas and gangliomas.​
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Marshfield​

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Samples must be in the performing department by 8am on the day of testing for results the same day.

 1 day​ UPLC-MS MS (Waters TQ-S system)
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
82384​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Marshfield Labs.  It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.  This test is used for clinical purposes.  It should not be regarded as investigational or for research.
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.