Test Overview
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Age specific reference ranges provided with report.
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
Medications that may interfere with catecholamines and metabolites include amphetamines and ampehtamine-like compounds, appetite suppressants, bromocriptine, buspirone, caffeine, carbidopa-levopa (Sinemet), clonidine, dexamethasone, diuretics, ethanol, isoproterenol, methyldopa (Aldomet), MAO inhibitors, nicotine, nose drops, propafenone (Rythmol), reserpine, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants, and vasodilators.
Test Details
3 - 6 days
- CATECHOLAMINES, URINE
- Catecholamine Fractionation, Urine
- Catecholamines, Free, Urine
- Catecholamines, Unconjugated, Urine
- Epinephrine, Urine
- Norepinephrine, Urine
- Unconjugated Catecholamines
- Catocholimine
- CATECHOLEMINES, URINE
- EPU
- NOREPU
- CATU-D
- DOPAMINE
- EPINEPHRIN
- NOREPINEPH
- EPINEPHRINE
- NOREPINEPHRINE
Specimen Requirements
If no preservative has been added to the urine at the start, Mayo is no longer able to run testing. It needs to be canceled and recollected. Plain urine refrigerated is no longer acceptable either. 1/25/24
Collect 24 hour urine specimen. Add 25 mL of 50% acetic acid to container prior to start of collection to maintain pH between 2 and 4 and refrigerate specimen during collection. Mix well, measure 24 hour urine volume, aliquot urine into a plastic urine container and refrigerate. Record total 24 hour urine volume and collection dates/times on request form. If no preservative has been added to the urine at the start, Mayo is no longer able to run testing. It needs to be canceled and recollected. Plain urine refrigerated is no longer acceptable either. 1/25/24
Use 15 mL of 50% acetic acid for children less than 5 years old.
If no preservative has been added to the urine at the start, Mayo is no longer able to run testing. It needs to be canceled and recollected. Plain urine refrigerated is no longer acceptable either. 1/25/24
Additional Information
Test includes epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Test sent to Mayo Clinic Laboratories.