ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

0080420: 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (HIAA), Urine

Test Mnemonic: HIAA
Methodology: High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Performed: Sun, Tue-Sat

Reported: 1-3 days

Specimen Required:  
Collect: 24-hour or random urine. Refrigerate 24-hour specimens during collection.

Transport: 5 mL aliquot from a well-mixed 24-hour or random collection at 2-8°C. (Min: 3 mL)  Submit specimen in an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. Record 24-hour total volume on tube.

Pediatric Collection/Transport: 1.5 mL aliquot from a well-mixed 24-hour or random collection at 2-8°C.  Record 24-hour total volume on tube.

Remarks: Patients should abstain, if possible, from medications, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal remedies for at least 72 hours prior to the test.  Twenty-four hour collections are generally recommended, but random collections may be used.  Refrigeration is the most important aspect of specimen preservation. Record total volume and collection time interval on transport tube and test request form.

Foods rich in serotonin (avocados, bananas, eggplant, pineapple, plums, tomatoes, walnuts) and medications that may affect metabolism of serotonin must be avoided at least 72 hours before and during collection of urine for HIAA.

Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 1 week; Frozen: 2 weeks

Reference Interval:
 
Test Number Components Reference Interval
 5-HIAA, Urine0.0-15.0 mg/d
 5-HIAA, Urine The HIAA-to-creatinine ratio will be reported whenever the urine collection is random or other than 24 hours, or the urine volume is less than 400 mL/24 hours.

0-14 mg/g crt
 Creatinine (24-hour)  
 
Male Female
3-8 years: 140-700 mg/d
9-12 years: 300-1300 mg/d
13-17 years: 500-2300 mg/d
18-50 years: 1000-2500 mg/d
51-80 years: 800-2100 mg/d
81 years and older: 600-2000 mg/d 		3-8 years: 140-700 mg/d
9-12 years: 300-1300 mg/d
13-17 years: 400-1600 mg/d
18-50 years: 700-1600 mg/d
51-80 years: 500-1400 mg/d
81 years and older: 400-1300 mg/d

Interpretive Data:
5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) results are expressed as a ratio to creatinine excretion (mg/ g cr).  HIAA mass per day (mg/d) is not reported if the urine collection is random, other than 24 hours, or for a urine volume less than 400 mL/d.



Note:
Foods and medications associated with altered urinary HIAA results:

Decreased HIAA: Aspirin, chlorpromazine (Thorazine), corticotropin, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, ethanol, gentisic acid, homogentisic acid, hydrazine derivatives, imipramine (Tofranil®), isocarboxazid (Marplan), keto acids, levodopa, MAO inhibitors, methenamine, methyldopa (Aldomet®), perchlorperazine, phenothiazines (Compazine®), promazine, promethazine (Mepergan®).

Increased HIAA: Acetaminophen, acetanilide, caffeine, coumaric acid, diazepam (Valium®), ephedrine, fluorouracil, glycerol guaiacolate (Guaifenesin), melphalan (Alkeran®), mephenesin, methamphetamine (Desoxyn), methocarbamol (Robaxin®), naproxen, nicotine, phenacetin, phenmetrazine, phenobarbital, phentolamine, rauwolfia, reserpine.
                                                         
       

CPT Code(s):
83497

 

 

 
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