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Free Catecholamines, Fractionated, plasma
| Item | Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval req'd? | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Available Stat? | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test code | CATP | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test group | Catecholamines | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performed by | Quest | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sendout? | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Method | HPLC w/ electrochemical detection | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patient Preparation | An 8 hour fast before specimen collection is preferred. Patient should avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and strenuous exercise prior to collection. Patients should be relaxed in a supine (recommended) or upright position before blood is drawn. States of anxiety and stress can cause fluctuations in the catecholamine levels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Collection Instructions | Pre-chill tube. Bring all samples to the laboratory on wet ice immediately for separation and freezing of plasma within 15 minutes of collection. Indicate if patient was supine or upright during collection on the requisition. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Container type | Dark Green top (on ice) (Light green top acceptable) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount to Collect | 8 mL blood | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sample type | Heparinized plasma | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred volume | 4 mL plasma | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Min. Volume | 2.5 mL plasma | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| UCSF Rejection Criteria | Not delivered on ice or delivered > 15 minutes after collection | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Processing notes | Process immediately. Plasma should be separated in a refrigerated centrifuge within 30 minutes of collection and then frozen immediately at -20C in plastic vials. Plasma MUST be RBC free. Order Quest # 8193N. Enter supine or upright information into Misys | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Units | pg/mL | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Normal range | Pediatric patient supine: Children age 3-15 years:
≥ 18 year olds patient supine:
≥ 18 year old patient upright (not recommended):
Pediatric normals from: J Chromatogr 1993 617:304-307 |
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| Synonyms | Adrenaline; catechols; dopamine; noradrenaline; norepinephrine; epinephrine | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stability | Room temperature 6 hours, refrigerated 6 hours, frozen at -20C 1 month. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turn around times | Test run Monday-Friday. Turnaround time: 2-5 days. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additional information | Generally recommended ONLY for tumor localization or for special evaluations such as clonidine suppression or glucagon stimulation. To convert ng/L of Epinephrine or Norepinephrine to pmol/L (SI units) multiply by 5.45 or 5.91, respectively. Due to the effects of stress, plasma levels are generally unreliable in infants and children, for whom urinary assays are recommended. |
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| CPT coding | 82384-90 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| LOINC code | 42493-7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated | 12/19/2012 4:29:20 PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entry Number | 172 |
If you have additional questions regarding this test, please call: 415-353-1667