Dopamine, Urine (Referred Out) - Saskatoon

Overview

Description

Ordering Recommendation

• This test needs to be cleared by Clinical Biochemist
• Metanephrine testing is preferred for detecting or ruling out the presence of pheochromocytoma or a paraganglioma
• Three days prior to collecting specimen, the patient should abstain from bananas, vanilla, chocolate, and caffeine beverages
• Medications affecting the test results include but not limited to: acetaminophen, salicylate, buspirone, cimetidine, codeine, L-dopa, MAO inhibitors. Please consult physician about medication discontinuation 

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

• 24 hour Urine
• Random Urine (acceptable for pediatric collections <16 years only)
   

Specimen collection container

• Preferred collection container: 24 Hour Urine Jug preserved with Sulfamic Acid
• Alternate collection container: Pediatric collection-Sterile Wide Mouth Screw Cap Container

Collection procedure

• 24 Hour Urine Collection: 

  • Must be collected in Sulfamic Acid Preservative-24 hour urine jug with preservative provided by Laboratory and/or LifeLabs locations.
  • Refrigerate during collection and transportation.

• Random Urine: no preservative required. 

Required volume

• Optimal Volume: 80 mL aliquot of 24 hour collection preserved with sulfamic acid

Performance

Days/times performed

Availability	Shipped Wednesdays
Testing Site	Referred out by St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory to Alberta Precision Laboratories (Calgary zone)

 

Maximum laboratory time

Results Reporting

• One month turnaround time by testing laboratory

Other information

Additional Comments

• Dopamine is part of Urine Catecholamines (Dopamine, norepinephrine, VMA, HVA, epinephrine) at Alberta Precision Laboratories 

• If Metanephrines are normal, Catecholamines not determined

Last Updated: November 5, 2025