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Catecholamines Blood Test, Fractionated - NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

catecholamine blood test measures the amount of the hormones in your body and includes: Dopamine, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine and Total Catecholamines.

NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Test Code: 084152

CPT Code: 82384

Also Known As: Adrenalin®, Plasma; Noradrenaline, Plasma; Dopamine; Epinephrine; Norepinephrine; Free Catecholamines, plasma; Fractionated Catecholamines

Methodology: High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical (EC) detection

Specimen Type: Blood

Preparation: 10-12 hours is fasting required. Walnuts, bananas, Monoamine oxidase inhibitor drugs, and medications that release epinephrine, norepinephrine, or dopamine or hinder their metabolism should be discontinued for at least one week prior to collection. Check with physician before stopping any medications. Avoid tobacco use and strenuous exercise prior to collection.

Test Results: 4-5 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.

Description

The catecholamine blood test measures the amount of the hormones dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine in your body. Doctors usually order the test to diagnose or rule out certain rare tumors, such as pheochromocytoma or neuroblastoma. The results of this test will help your doctor narrow down the list of possible causes of your symptoms.

The symptoms of a pheochromocytoma, or adrenal tumor, are:

  • high blood pressure
  • rapid heartbeat
  • an unusually hard heartbeat
  • heavy sweating
  • severe headaches off and on for an extended period
  • pale skin
  • unexplained weight loss
  • feeling unusually frightened for no reason
  • feeling strong, unexplained anxiety

The symptoms of neuroblastoma are:

  • painless lumps of tissue under the skin
  • abdominal pain
  • chest pain
  • back pain
  • bone pain
  • swelling of the legs
  • wheezing
  • high blood pressure
  • rapid heartbeat
  • diarrhea
  • bulging eyeballs
  • dark areas around the eyes
  • any changes to the shape or size of eyes, including changes to pupil size
  • a fever
  • unexplained weight loss

 

Medications that 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 effect of drugs on catecholamine results may not be predictable. 

Unless the purpose of the measurement is drug monitoring, discontinue any epinephrine, norepinephrine, or dopamine injections or infusions for at least 12 hours before specimen draw.  Discontinue medications that release epinephrine, norepinephrine, or dopamine or hinder their metabolism for at least 1 week before obtaining the specimen.  Never discontinue medication without first speaking with your doctor.

 

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