Alberta Precision Laboratories

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Organization:

Alberta Precision Laboratories

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Test Name/Synonym:

Catecholamines, Urine - Calgary Zone (CLS)

Test Code:

UCAT AND U24H (URINE CREATININE IS INCLUDED IN THE U24H ORDER)

Primary Container:

24 HR URINE CONTAINER - ACID

Specimen Collection Requirements:

80 mL aliquot of 24 hour urine collection preserved with Sulfamic Acid.

If Sulfamic acid is not available, HCl is also an acceptable preservative. See HCl for Urine Preservation.

If test is ordered at the same time as Oxalate, collect with HCl instead of Sulfamic acid. See Oxalate. Direct patient to obtain container with 25 mL of 6N HCl from Beddington or Riverbend PSC or RRL Outpatient labs. HCl is not available at any other PSC.

Specimen may be dropped off at any PSC after collection is complete.

24 hour urine specimen collection container must have preservative pouch(es) added BEFORE collection.

Collection type	Patient Age	Amount of Sulfamic acid preservative
24 hour	Up to 1 month	Not suitable for 0.5 g pouch Refer the patient to ACH
	1 up to 2 months	2 x 0.5 g pouches
	2 up to 4 months	3 x 0.5 g pouches
	4 up to 12 months	4 x 0.5 g pouches
	12 months up to 4 years	5 x 0.5 g pouches
	Greater than or equal to 4 years	7 g pouch in each 4 liter container collection
Random	Less than 16 years ONLY	No preservative.

Refrigerate during collection.

Processing:

24 Hour Collections:

Acidify specimen in original collection container.
Record 24 hour volume and collection (start and end) dates and time in space provided on requisition.
Mix well and pour off acidified aliquot.
Sample pH should be less than 3.0.

Random Collections: (ONLY for patients less than 16 years old)

Transport to DSC on ice.
DSC Accession: freeze specimen upon arrival at DSC.

Transportation:

Transport at refrigerated temperature.
Diagnostic Scientific Center: Store in refrigerator after receipt.

Testing Schedule:

Test is performed on a monthly basis.

Testing Area:

Toxicology

Performing Site:

Diagnostic and Scientific Centre

Additional Test Information:

Testing includes Epinephrine, Norepinephrine and Dopamine

False positive increases in urine and plasma metanephrines and catecholamines have been associated with the following drugs or classes of drugs: anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, some beta blockers, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, some anxiolytics, anti-Parkinson’s drugs, decongestants, phenoxybenzamine.

Interpretation of results while on one of these agents should be interpreted with caution and put into clinical context.

A urine metanephrine screen is performed by Analytical Toxicology.
If positive, urine catecholamines may be referred to University of Alberta at the discretion of the clinical chemist.

Last Updated On:

Thursday, February 17, 2022