91242 Catecholamines, Plasma

Specimen:

Collect:

Two 4 mL Green Top (Li Heparin)

Submit:

4 mL (Min:3 mL) Plasma. Submit Frozen. Submit in a Standard Transport Tube.

Special Handling:

Draw in a chilled tube, spin immediately, seperate, and freeze.
Patient should be calm and in a supine position for 30 minutes prior to collection.
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.

Stability:

Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 2 Day(s); Frozen: 1 Month(s); Incubated: Unacceptable

Methodology:

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Performed:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Reported:

3-5 Day(s)

CPT Codes:

82384 - Catecholamines, Fractionated

Interpretive Data:

Please see report for interpretive data.

Components:

93446 - DOPAMINE	93447 - NOREPINEPHRINE
93448 - EPINEPHRINE	93449 - INTERPRETATION