Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA) and Homovanillic Acid (HVA), Random Urine
Test Mnemonic
UVAHA
CPT Codes
- 83150 - QTY (1)
- 84585 - QTY (1)
Aliases
- VMA & HVA
Includes
- Creatinine, Urine - per volume
- Vanillylmandelic Acid - per volume
- Vanillylmandelic Acid - ratio to CRT
- Homovanillic Acid - per volume
- Homovanillic Acid - ratio to CRT
- VMA and HVA Interpretation
Performing Laboratory
ARUP
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 mL | Urine, random | Clean container | Refrigerated | Critical Refrigerated. Abstain from medications 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
Critical Refrigerated. Abstain from medications 72 hours prior to collection. This test is New York state approved.
Clinical Info
This test is useful as the initial test for the diagnosis and monitoring of neuroblastoma. Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and 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. Moderately elevated HVA (homovanillic acid) and VMA (vanillylmandelic acid) can 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), lithium, MAO inhibitors, melatonin, methyldopa (Aldomet), morphine, nitroglycerin, nose drops, propafenone (Rythmol), radiographic agents, rauwolfia alkaloids (Reserpine), tricyclic antidepressants, and vasodilators. The effects of some drugs on catecholamine metabolite results may not be predicable.