Homovanillic Acid (HVA), 24 Hour Urine
Test Mnemonic
UHVA
CPT Codes
- 83150 - QTY (1)
Aliases
- HVA, Urine
Includes
- Creatinine, Urine per volume
- Creatinine, Urine per day
- HVA per volume
- HVA ratio to Creatinine
- HVA per 24 hours
Performing Laboratory
ARUP
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 mL | Urine, 24-hour (well-mixed) | Clean container | Refrigerate during collection. | Refrigerated | Abstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection. |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient | Unacceptable |
| Refrigerated | 1 week |
| Frozen | 2 weeks |
Days Performed
Sun, Tue - Sat
Turnaround Time
2 - 6 days
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) |
Special Info
Indicate total volume. This test is New York DOH approved.
Clinical Info
Moderately elevated HVA (homovanillic acid) may be caused by a variety of factors such as essential hypertension, intense anxiety, intense physical exercise, and numerous drug interactions (including some over-the-counter medications and herbal products). Medications that may interfere with catecholamines and their metabolites include amphetamines and amphetamine-like compounds, appetite suppressants, bromocriptine, buspirone, caffeine, chlorpromazine, clonidine, disulfiram, diuretics (in doses sufficient to deplete sodium), epinephrine, glucagon, guanethidine, histamine, hydrazine derivatives, imipramine, levodopa (L-dopa, Sinemet(R)), lithium, MAO inhibitors, melatonin, methyldopa (Aldomet(R)), morphine, nitroglycerin, nose drops, propafenone (Rythmol), radiographic agents, rauwolfia alkaloids (Reserpine), and vasodilators. The effects of some drugs on catecholamine metabolite results may not be predictable. Interpretive Data: Homovanillic acid (HVA) results are expressed as a ratio to creatinine excretion (mg/g CRT). No reference interval is available for results reported in units of mg/L. Slight or moderate increases in catecholamine metabolites may be due to extreme anxiety, essential hypertension, intense physical exercise, or drug interactions. Significant increase of one or more catecholamine metabolites (several times the upper reference limit) is associated with an increased probability of a secreting neuroendocrine tumor. Per 24h calculations are provided to aid interpretation for collections with a duration of 24 hours and an average daily urine volume. For specimens with notable deviations in collection time or volume, ratios of analytes to a corresponding urine creatinine concentration may assist in result interpretation.