Catecholamines, Fractionated, Plasma




Test Mnemonic

PLCAT

CPT Codes

  • 82384 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

2230-1, 2666-6, 2216-0, 2056-0

Includes

  • Norepinephrine
  • Epinephrine
  • Dopamine

Performing Laboratory

ARUP


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
4 mLPlasmaSodium heparin (Green) Frozen, CriticalCollect 2 tubes on ice. Centrifuge, aliquot and freeze within one hour of collection. Refrigerated centrifuge is preferred but not required.

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
4 mLPlasmaLithium heparin (Green) Frozen, CriticalCollect 2 tubes on ice. Centrifuge, aliquot and freeze within one hour of collection. Refrigerated centrifuge is preferred but not required.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
2.1 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
AmbientAfter separation from cells: Unacceptable
RefrigeratedAfter separation from cells: Unacceptable
FrozenAfter separation from cells: 1 month at -20 degrees C; 1 year at -70 degrees C

Days Performed

Sun, Tue - Sat

Turnaround Time

2 - 5 days

Methodology

Name Description
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) 

Reference Range

Dopamine
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       2 days and older: 0-20 pg/mL 
Epinephrine
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
 2 Days10 DaysNormal36-400pg/mL
 11 Days90 DaysNormal55-200pg/mL
 4 Months11 MonthsNormal55-440pg/mL
 12 Months23 MonthsNormal36-640pg/mL
 24 Months35 MonthsNormal18-440pg/mL
 3 Years17 YearsNormal18-460pg/mL
 18 Years99 YearsNormal10-200pg/mL
Norepinephrine
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
 2 Days10 DaysNormal170-1180pg/mL
 11 Days90 DaysNormal370-2080pg/mL
 4 Months11 MonthsNormal270-1120pg/mL
 12 Months23 MonthsNormal68-1810pg/mL
 24 Months35 MonthsNormal170-1470pg/mL
 3 Years17 YearsNormal85-1250pg/mL
 18 Years99 YearsNormal80-520pg/mL

Special Info

Patient should be calm and supine for 30 minutes prior to collection. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered. This test is New York DOH approved. Unacceptable conditions: EDTA plasma, serum, or urine.

Clinical Info

Not recommended for evaluation of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. Use to evaluate clinical symptoms of excess catecholamine secretion. Small increases in catecholamines (less than 2 times the upper reference limit) usually are the result of physiological stimuli, drugs, or improper specimen collection. Significant elevation of one or more catecholamines (2 or more times the upper reference limit) is associated with an increased probability of a neuroendocrine tumor. Measurement of plasma or urine fractionated metanephrines provides better diagnostic sensitivity than measurement of catecholamines. Higher catecholamine concentrations are observed in specimens collected from upright or standing adults. Epinephrine may be increased by approximately 20%; norepinephrine up to 700 pg/mL; dopamine, unchanged. Medications that may interfere with catecholamines and metabolites include amphetamines and amphetamine-like compounds, appetite suppressants, bromocriptine, buspirone, caffeine, carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet), clonidine, dexamethasone, diuretics (in doses sufficient to deplete sodium), ethanol, isoproterenol, labetalol, methyldopa (Aldomet), MAO inhibitors, nicotine, nose drops, propafenone (Rythmol), reserpine, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants, and vasodilators. The effect of drugs on catecholamine results may not be predictable. Children, particularly those under 2 years of age, often show an elevated catecholamine response to stress.