Homovanillic Acid (HVA), 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. |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 mL | Urine, random | Clean container | 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) |
Reference Range
| HVA, Urine | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Age From | Age To | Type | Range | Range Unit |
| 18 Years | 99 Years | Normal | 0.0 - 15.0 | mg/d | |
| HVA, Urine mg/g CRT | |||||
| Sex | Age From | Age To | Type | Range | Range Unit |
| Years | 2 Years | Normal | 0 - 42 | mg/g crt | 3 Years | 5 Years | Normal | 0 - 22 | mg/g crt | 6 Years | 17 Years | Normal | 0 - 15 | mg/g crt | 18 Years | 99 Years | Normal | 0 - 8 | mg/g crt |
Special Info
Indicate total volume on requisition. Homovanillic Acid (HVA) results are expressed as a ratio to creatinine excretion (mg/g cr). HVA mass per day (mg/d) is not reported on specimens from patients younger than 18 years of age, for random specimens, urine collection periods other than 24 hours, or for urine volumes less than 400 mL/day. No reference interval is available for results reported in mg/L. This test is New York DOH approved.
Clinical Info
Medications which 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), lithium, MAO inhibitors, melatonin, methyldopa (Aldomet), morphine, nitroglycerin, nose drops, propafenone (Rythmol), radiographic agents, rauwolfia alkaloids (Reserpine), and vasodialators. The effects of some drugs on catecholamine metabolite results may not be predictable.