Pathology tests database

Sample and container requirements

Acidified 24 hr Urine

Minimum volume required

600 μL urine

Special requirements

The volume, dates & times of collection should be noted.

Patient preparation

Analyses are performed on 24 hour urine collections. Under exceptional circumstances block-timed urines and random specimens may be analysed. The 24 hour urines must be collected into acid (e.g. 50 mL of 3 mol/L hydrochloric acid); acidification of specimens following receipt by the laboratory is unacceptable. Substances which can interfere both in vivo and in vitro include: - Tricyclic antidepressants - Phenoxybenzamine - Calcium channel blockers - Stimulants (e.g. caffeine, nicotine) - Levodopa - Paracetamol Patients should avoid caffeine for 24 hours and during collection of your specimen. In addition, the following drugs should be avoided for one week prior to the collection, if clinically feasible: - Phenothiazines (used to treat mental or emotional disorders) - Tricyclic antidepressants including imipramine, as well as labetalol, sotalol and monoamine oxidate inhibitors (MAOIs) - Chlorpromazine (used to treat psychosis)

Sample viability

Turnaround time

14 days

Reference range

24 hr Urine Metadrenaline Ranges: Normetadrenaline: Adult: <4.9 µmol/24 hr 0 – 2 months: <0.85 µmol/24 hr 3 – 5 months: <0.61 µmol/24 hr 6 – 8 months: <0.6 µmol/24 hr 9 – 11 months: <0.56 µmol/24 hr 1 year: <0.65 µmol/24 hr 2 – 5 years: <0.6 µmol/24 hr 6 – 9 years: <0.96 µmol/24 hr 10 – 15 years: <1.59 µmol/24 hr Metadrenaline: Adult: <2.0 µmol/24 hr 0 – 2 months: <0.19 µmol/24 hr 3 – 8 months: <0.21 µmol/24 hr 9 – 11 months: <0.51 µmol/24 hr 1 year: <0.26 µmol/24 hr 2 – 5 years: <0.5 µmol/24 hr 6 – 9 years: <0.7 µmol/24 hr 10 – 15 years: <1.23 µmol/24 hr 3 MT: Adult: <2.75 µmol/24 hr 0 – 4 years: <0.62 µmol/24 hr 5 – 15 years: <1.26 µmol/24 hr Random Urine Metadrenaline Ranges: Normetadrenaline: Adult: <0.35 µmol/mmol creatinine 0 – 2 months: <1.32 µmol/mmol creatinine 3 – 5 months: <0.91 µmol/mmol creatinine 6 – 11 months: <0.57 µmol/mmol creatinine 1 year: <0.35 µmol/mmol creatinine 2 – 4 years: <0.24 µmol/mmol creatinine 5 – 9 years: <0.16 µmol/mmol creatinine 10 – 15 years: <0.11 µmol/mmol creatinine Metadrenaline: Adult: <0.11 µmol/mmol creatinine 0 – 5 months: <0.21 µmol/mmol creatinine 6 – 11 months: <0.13 µmol/mmol creatinine 1 year: <0.12 µmol/mmol creatinine 2 – 4 years: <0.11 µmol/mmol creatinine 5 – 9 years: <0.10 µmol/mmol creatinine 10 – 15 years: <0.07 µmol/mmol creatinine 3 MT: Adult: <0.15 µmol/mmol creatinine <1 year: <1.5 µmol/mmol creatinine 1 year: <0.75 µmol/mmol creatinine 2 – 15 years: <0.36 µmol/mmol creatinine (Source: normetadrenaline/metadrenaline: adults: locally derived, /24 hr: Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, /mmol creatinine – Chromsystems, 3-MT: adults /24 hr: Brain et al., 2006, doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2006.070805, adults /mmol creatinine: locally derived, paediatrics /24 hr: Marchese et al., 2009, doi: 10.1515/cclm.1997.35.7.533, paediatrics /mmol creatinine: Candito et al., 2002)

Clinical guidance

Please refer to LabTestsOnlineUK to learn more about urine metanephrines. https://labtestsonline.org.uk/tests/urine-metadrenalines-metanephrines

Notes

Measurement of urinary catecholamines will also be performed on all samples.