VMA and HVA, Urine - Saskatoon
Discipline
Biochemistry
Overview
Description
Ordering recommendation
- For three days before and during collection avoid drug products containing acetaminophen, ASA/salicylate, buspirone, cimetidine, codeine, isoproterenol, labetalol, L-dopa, mandelamine, MAO inhibitors (e.g. phenelzine, tranylcypromine), metoclopramide, methyldopa, and oxycodone. Patient's physician must be consulted about medication discontinuation.
- Random collection accepted on children <18 years
- For adults, 24 hour urine collection is preferred, but testing can be performed on random samples
Alias
- Homovanillic acid
- Vanillylmandelic acid
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- 24 hour urine collection
- Random urine collection
Specimen collection container
- Preferred collection container: 24 hour urine jug with no additive
- Alternative collection container (24h aliquot or random sample): sterile wide mouth screw cap container
Collection procedure
- Refrigerate during collection
- Follow 24 hour urine collection instructions
- State exact times, dates and volume of collection on requisition
- Deliver to a hospital test centre or a patient service centre within 4 hours of collection
Required volume
- 12 mL
Transport and stability
24 hour urine jug
Refrigerate during collection
Adjust pH of an aliquot to < 3 within 4 hours of collection by drop wise addition of 6N HCl and then freeze
Random samples
- Adjust pH to < 3 within 4 hours of collection by drop wise addition of 6N HCl and then freeze
Rejection criteria
- Specimens received where the collection protocols were not followed
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria
Performance
Days/times performed
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Maximum laboratory time
Results Reporting
- 14 day turnaround time by testing laboratory
Last Updated: January 14, 2026