Pathology Handbook

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Catecholamines Blood

Alternative Names:

Adrenaline
Noradrenaline
Dopamine

Laboratory:

Clinical Biochemistry

Test Code:

PLCAT

Specimen Types:

Blood

Container Types:

Lithium Heparin (without Gel)

Collection & Request Instructions:

Collect on Ice

No STRESS during collection.

Sample collected usually by indwelling catheter after 30 mins in a quiet room with no distrurbance to the patient.

Processing Instructions:

Centrifuge immediately
Aliquot
Freeze Immediately

Transport Instructions between Sites and/or Laboratories:

On Ice
Send to lab immediately

External Laboratory:

Austin Pathology

External Transport Instructions:

Send Frozen on Dry Ice

Must be approved by a Chemical Pathologist

Test frequency by Austin Pathology is "as required".

Note: Testing for Plasma free metanephrines is now considered the preferred test in screening for the presence of neuroendocrine tumours.

Comment on ordering in Powerchart now reads:

Plasma catecholamines are not recommended for the search for a phaeochromocytoma in patients with hypertension. We recommend plasma free metanephrines after 30 minutes of rest, or urinary metanephrines in these patients⁽¹⁾.

van Berkel A, Lenders JW, Timmers HJ. Diagnosis of endocrine disease: Biochemical diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Eur J Endocrinol. 2014;170(3):R109–R119. Published 2014 Feb 4. doi:10.1530/EJE-13-0882

Hans Schneider MD, FRACP, FRCPA