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Test Name:
Catecholamines, Fractionated, Plasma

• SBMF No:
  44012
• Performance Lab Name:
  ARUP Laboratories
• Test Mnemonic:
  CATECH
• ABN:
  Not required
• CPT Code:
  82384
• LOINC Code:
  2216-0; 2230-1; 2666-6; 49257-9
• Ref Lab Test No:
  0080216
• Test Includes:
  Epinephrine
  Norepinephrine
  Dopamine
• Also Known As:
  Adrenalin, Noradrenaline, and Dopamine
  Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine
  Fractionated Plasma Catecholamines
• Spec Type:
  Plasma
• Spec Container:
  Green top (heparin) tube
• Pref Vol:
  4.0 mL
• Min Vol:
  2.1 mL
• Fasting:
  No
• Patient Prep:
  Patient should be calm and in a supine position for 30 minutes prior to collection
• Spec Collect:
  Routine venipuncture
  Immediately after collection, gently invert tube to mix then place tube in ice slush (ice and water mixture)
• Spec Process:
  Promptly centrifuge 15 minutes (refrigerated centrifuge is preferred but not required)
  Immediately transfer plasma to separate plastic tube and freeze
• Spec Store Transport:
  Frozen
• Spec Stability:
  After separation from cells:
  Room temperature (20-30°C): Unacceptable
  Refrigerated (2-8°C): Unacceptable
  1 month frozen (-20°C) – Do not use frost-free units that undergo repeated freeze/thaw cycles
  Up to 1 year deep-frozen (-70°C)
• Spec Reject:
  EDTA plasma, serum, or urine
• Spec Remarks:
  CRITICAL FROZEN – Separate samples must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered
  Separate plasma from cells and freeze within one hour of collection
• Methodology:
  Quantitative High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
• Clinical Significance:
  Refer to:
  
• Reference Range:
  

  Epinephrine (Supine)

  Age
  2-10 days 11 days-3 months 4-11 months 12-23 months 24-35 months 3-17 years 18 years and older	36-400 pg/mL 55-200 pg/mL 55-440 pg/mL 36-640 pg/mL 18-440 pg/mL 18-460 pg/mL 10-200 pg/mL

  Norepinephrine (Supine)

  Age
  2-10 days 11 days-3 months 4-11 months 12-23 months 24-35 months 3-17 years 18 years and older	170-1180 pg/mL 370-2080 pg/mL 270-1120 pg/mL 68-1810 pg/mL 170-1470 pg/mL 85-1250 pg/mL 80-520 pg/mL

  Dopamine (Supine)
  2 days and older: 0-20 pg/mL

  Interpretive Data:
  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.

  Note:
  Medications which 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 effects of drugs on catecholamine results may not be predictable.

  For optimum results, patient should be supine for 30 minutes prior to collection. "Upright" ranges typically show norepinephrine up to 700 pg/mL, epinephrine up to 900 pg/mL, and dopamine essentially unchanged.

  Children, particularly those under 2 years of age, often show an elevated catecholamine response to stress.

• Day Run:
  Sun, Tue-Sat
• Time Reported:
  2-4 days
• Test Type:
  HORMONE