Catecholamines, Plasma (Referred Out) - Saskatoon
Discipline
Biochemistry
Overview
Description
Ordering recommendation
- Not recommended for evaluation of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. Measurement of plasma or urine fractionated metanephrines provides better diagnostic sensitivity for pheochromocytoma than measurement of catecholamines.
- Collect after overnight fast (water and non-caffeinated drinks permissable).
- Medications may interfere with catecholamines and metabolites including theophylline, vasodilators, tricyclic antidepressents, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, L-dopa, clonidine, dexamethasone, diuretics, antidiuretic hormone, nicotine, propafenone, alpha methyldopa, alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine, isoproteronal, dobutamine and carbidopa.
- Patient must refrain from using tobacco, drinking caffeinated beverages.
- Tyrosine rich foods (such as nuts, bananas, or cheese) and alcohol could also affect the results.
Alias
- Catecholamine fractionation
- Epinephrine, plasma
- Norepinephrine, plasma
- Dopamine, plasma
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Plasma
Specimen collection container
- Preferred collection container: Lavender (EDTA) 4.0mL
Collection procedure
Collection requirements
- Patient must be supine for at least 15 minutes prior to and during specimen collection.
- Specimen for this test must be collected, processed, aliquoted and frozen within 30 minutes of collection.
- Patient must be referred to a Health Services Centre or a Hospital Test Center for collection.
- Centrifuge and aliquot plasma to a transport tube. Indicate patient's medications.
Required volume
- Optimal volume: 4.0 mL full collection tube
- Minimum volume: 2 mL plasma
(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.)
Rejection criteria
- Received in laboratory not frozen nor on ice pack more than 30 minutes after collection
- If specimen thaws, it is unsuitable for analysis.
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria
Testing Information
Clinical interpretation
- Result interpretation should be correlated with clinical and other laboratory findings.
Performance
Methodology
- Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectometry
Days/times performed
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Maximum laboratory time
Results reporting
- 15 day turnaround time by referral laboratory
Other information
Additional comments
- Small increases in catecholamines usually are the result of physiological stimuli, drugs, or improper specimen collection.
- Elevated catecholamine concentrations are observed in specimens collected from upright or standing adults
Last Updated: February 26, 2026