Epinephrine

Norepinephrine

Referral Laboratory

1. 1. The patient should be fasting for 4 or more hours without smoking.
2. 2. Walnuts, bananas, and alpha-methyldopa (Aldomet) should be avoided for a week prior to sampling.
3. 3. Other drug interference may occur, including epinephrine and epinephrine-like drugs (e.g. nosedrops, sinus and cough preparations, bronchodilators, appetite suppressants).
4. 4. The test is unreliable in patients on Levodopa or methenamine mandelate.

Lavender top (EDTA) or green top (heparin) tube

Plasma

3 mL

2.2 mL

1. An indwelling heparinized venous catheter is advocated, since venipuncture can cause an increase in substances for which the testing is being done.
2. Avoid patient stress.
3. The patient should remain in quiet surroundings for at least 30 minutes.

1. Spin and transfer the plasma to a plastic transport tube.
2. Freeze immediately within one hour of collection, at -20°C and ship frozen. The time between blood collection and the preparation of plasma is critical. If the time exceeds one hour, catecholamine values increase at refrigerator temperatures and decrease at room temperature.

Frozen

Frozen - 2 weeks
Room Temp - separated plasma is good two hours

Samples that are not drawn in the correct tube, plasma not received frozen, or inadequate patient preparation will result in a rejected specimen.

82384 - Catecholamines (EAP 30021084)

High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical (EC) detection

To avoid delays in turn around time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.