Catecholamines Fractionated by LC-MS/MS, 24- hour Urine, Free
Test Mnemonic
URCAT2
CPT Codes
- 82384 - QTY (1)
Aliases
- Catecholamines, 24-hour urine
- Dopamine
- Epinephrine
- Norepinephrine
- Adrenaline
- Fractionation, Catecholamines
- Free Catecholamine Fractionation
- Noradrenaline
Includes
- Creatinine, Urine - per volume
- Creatinine, Urine - per 24h
- Epinephrine, Urine - per 24h
- Epinephrine, Urine - ratio to CRT
- Epinephrine, Urine - per volume
- Norepinephrine, Urine - per 24h
- Norepinephrine, Urine - ratio to CRT
- Norepinephrine, Urine - per volume
- Dopamine, Urine - per 24h
- Dopamine, Urine - ratio to CRT
- Dopamine, Urine - per volume
- Catecholamines, Urine Interpretation
Performing Laboratory
ARUP
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 mL | Urine, 24-hour (well-mixed) | 24 HR Urine Container | Refrigerate during collection. | Refrigerated | Drugs and medications may affect results and should be discontinued for at least 72 hours prior to specimen collection. pH urine to > 2 and < 7 with 6M HCl acid or sulfamic acid before transport. Record total volume and collection time interval on sample and test request form. |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated | 1 week (unpreserved); 1 month (preserved) |
| Frozen | Unacceptable (unpreserved); 6 months (preserved) |
| Ambient | Unacceptable |
Days Performed
Sun - Sat
Turnaround Time
2 - 6 days
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) |
Special Info
Drugs and medications may affect results and should be discontinued for at least 72 hours prior to specimen collection, if possible. Catecholamines are not stable above pH 7. The pH of such specimens must be adjusted by the addition of 6M HCl acid or sulfamic acid prior to transport. A pH less than 2 can cause assay interference. Record total volume and collection time interval on transport tube and test request form. Specimen preservation Option 1: Transfer a 4 mL aliquot (Min: 2.5 mL) to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. Adjust pH to 2.0-4.0 with 6M HCl. Specimen Preservation Option 2: Transfer a 4 mL aliquot (Min: 2.5 mL) to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube containing 20 mg sulfamic acid (ARUP Supply #48098), available by contacting Client Services at 800.628.6816 or 216.444.5755 (Min: 2.5 mL). Room temperature specimens, specimens preserved with boric acid or acetic acid, or specimens with pH > 7 will be rejected. This test is New York DOH approved.
Clinical Info
This test is useful to evaluate clinical symptoms of excess catecholamine secretion. Not recommended for evaluation of paraganglioma or pheochromocytoma. The optimal specimen for this testing is a 24-hour urine collection.