ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Catecholamines Fractionated, Plasma : 0080216

Mnemonic: CATE PF

Ordering Recommendation: Not a first-line test for suspected catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumors (pheochromocytoma or neuroblastoma).
Methodology: Quantitative High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Performed: Sun, Tue-Sat
Reported: 1-3 days
Specimen Required: Patient Prep: Patient should be calm and supine for 30 minutes prior to collection.

Collect: Green (sodium or lithium heparin). Collect on ice.

Specimen Preparation: Specimen should be centrifuged and frozen within one hour (refrigerated centrifuge is preferred but not required). Transfer 4 mL plasma to an ARUP Standard Transport
Tube. (Min: 2.1 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: Frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions: EDTA plasma, serum, or urine.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): After separation from cells: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen at -20°C: 1 month; Frozen at -70°C: 1 year
Reference Interval:
Supine
 
Test Number Components Reference Interval
 Epinephrine 
 
Age  
2-10 days
11 days-3 months
4-11 months
12-23 months
24-35 months
3-17 years
18 years and older 		36-400 pg/mL
55-200 pg/mL
55-440 pg/mL
36-640 pg/mL
18-440 pg/mL
18-460 pg/mL
10-200 pg/mL
 Norepinephrine 
 
Age  
2-10 days
11 days-3 months
4-11 months
12-23 months
24-35 months
3-17 years
18 years and older 		170-1180 pg/mL
370-2080 pg/mL
270-1120 pg/mL
68-1810 pg/mL
170-1470 pg/mL
85-1250 pg/mL
80-520 pg/mL
 Dopamine2 days and older: 0-20 pg/mL

Interpretive Data: Small increases in catecholamines (less than 2 times the upper reference limit) usually are the result of physiological stimuli, drugs, or improper specimen collection.  Significant elevation of one or more catecholamines (2 or more times the upper reference limit) is associated with an increased probability of a neuroendocrine tumor. Measurement of plasma or urine fractionated metanephrines provides better diagnostic sensitivity than measurement of catecholamines.
Note: Medications which 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 effects of drugs on catecholamine results may not be predictable. 

For optimum results, patient should be supine for 30 minutes prior to collection."Upright" ranges typically show norepinephrine up to 700 pg/mL, epinephrine up to 900 pg/mL, and dopamine essentially unchanged.

Children, particularly those under 2 years of age, often show an elevated catecholamine response to stress.
CPT Code(s): 82384
Cross References: Adrenalin (Catecholamines Fractionated, Plasma), Catecholamine Fractionation (Catecholamines Fractionated, Plasma), Catecholamines, Free (Catecholamines Fractionated, Plasma), Dopamine (Catecholamines Fractionated, Plasma), Epinephrine (Catecholamines Fractionated, Plasma), Noradrenaline (Catecholamines Fractionated, Plasma), Norepinephrine (Catecholamines Fractionated, Plasma), Plasma Catecholamines (Catecholamines Fractionated, Plasma)