Collection instructions:
Casual Urine ONLY for Children (minimum 2 mL)
Urine catecholamine requests in adults are not usually performed unless by special arrangement with a Chemical Pathologist. For requests on patients 16 years and older urine metanephrines will be performed instead.
List all medications on the request form.
Urine Metanephrine is the preferred test for phaeochromocytoma.
Urine Catecholamines is a 2nd line test.
Laboratory instruction:
Register adult requests for catecholamines with the code for metanephrine. LabPlus will assess and perform the appropriate tests.
Photocopy the request form, give to biochemistry, along with the barcode numbers; send with the computer generated form to LabPlus.
Urine Dopamine requests in adults are not usually performed unless by special arrangement with a Chemical Pathologist. For requests on patients 16 years and older urine metanephrines will be performed instead.
Casual paediatric specimens must be acidified within 2 hours of collection.
Please transport urine in a urine tube