Test Overview
Test Methodology

HPLC with electrochemical detection

Test Usage

The three catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine) are the principal secretory products of neural tissue. Clinically, the measurement of circulating catecholamines is valuable in the diagnosis of catecholamine secreting tumors associated chiefly with hypertension (phechromocytomas, neuroblastomas, and gangliomas) and with the evaluation of orthostatic hypotension.

Test Limitations

Stages of anxiety and stress can cause fluctuations in the catecholamine levels.

Test Details
Days Set Up
Monday - Friday
Analytic Time

3 days

Soft Order Code
SCATP / CFPST / CFPSU
MiChart Code
Catecholamines, Fractionated
Synonyms
  • Adrenaline, Plasma
  • Catecholamine Fractionation, Plasma
  • Catecholamines, Free, Plasma
  • Catecholamines, Unconjugated, Plasma
  • Dopamine, Plasma
  • Epinephrine, Plasma
  • Noradrenaline, Plasma
  • Norepinephrine, Plasma
  • Plasma Catecholamine
  • Catocholimine
  • PCAT
  • SCATP
  • CFPST
  • CFPSU
  • Clonidine Suppression Test
  • Pheochromocytoma
Laboratory
Sendout
Reference Laboratory
Quest Valencia 314
Section
Special Testing
Specimen Requirements
Collection Instructions

Overnight fasting is preferred but not required, and the patient should abstain from nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and strenuous exercise for three hours prior to specimen collection. Patients should be relaxed in either a supine or upright position before blood is drawn. Collect specimen in a pre-chilled green top tube. Centrifuge, aliquot plasma into a plastic vial and freeze within 30 minutes of collection.

Special Handling

See below for patient preparation and/or collection instructions. Collect in prechilled tube and place on ice immediately. Must arrive in lab or aliquot and freeze within 30 minutes of collection.

Normal Volume
6 mL plasma
Minimum Volume
2.5 mL plasma
Storage Temperature
Strict frozen
Rejection Criteria
Collected in lithium heparin green top tube
Additional Information

Test includes Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Dopamine, and Total Catecholamines. Test sent to Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute of Valencia.

Billing
CPT Code
82384
Fee Code
AA328