Catecholamines, Fractionated, Plasma

Plasma Fractionated Catecholamines, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Catecholamines, Plasma, Fractionated, Dopamine, Adrenalin, Noradrenaline, Catecholamines Panel Plasma 

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231933, Beaker: CatFracPlas, Quest: 314

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Patients should be relaxed in either a supine or upright position before blood is drawn. States of anxiety and stress can cause fluctuations in the catecholamine levels. Patient should avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and strenuous exercise prior to collection. Overnight fasting is preferred.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred): Green-top Sodium Heparin tube.
Also acceptable: Lavender-top (EDTA) tubes.

• Pre-chill green-top/lav tube.
• After collection place specimen on ice.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Centrifuge to separate plasma from cells. Centrifuge 20 minutes 1000xg. The plasma must be free of RBCs. Transfer plasma to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C /-4°F or below) immediately.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL plasma, frozen (-20°C /-4°F or below). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Received room temperature.
• Received refrigerated.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated will not be tested.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Place specimen on ice and transport to the Laboratory immediately for processing.

In-Lab Processing

Critical frozen. Centrifuge to separate plasma from cells. Centrifuge 20 minutes 1000xg. The plasma must be free of RBCs. Transfer plasma to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C /-4°F or below) immediately.

Transport: 2.0 mL plasma, frozen (-20°C /-4°F or below). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 6 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 6 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 1 month

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Monday – Saturday.
Results available in 3-6 days.

Reference Range

Catecholamines, Total (<18 years)      Not established.
Catecholamines, Total (≥18 years)      Not established.
Epinephrine
  Supine                  <58 pg/mL
  Upright                 <82 pg/mL
Norepinephrine  
  Supine                  149-564 pg/mL
  Upright                 199-937 pg/mL
Dopamine
  Supine                  <16 pg/mL
  Upright                 <27 pg/mL
Total Catecholamines
  Supine                  <632 pg/mL
  Upright                 <1046 pg/mL

Test Methodology

Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS).

Clinical Utility

Catecholamines, Fractionated, Plasma – This panel may aid in evaluating catecholamine-producing pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). However, measurements of plasma free or urinary fractionated metanephrines (i.e., the O-methylated catecholamine metabolites) are preferred for the initial biochemical evaluation of PPGLs because of their overall high diagnostic sensitivity [1].

Most PPGLs secrete catecholamines and can cause catecholamine excess, resulting in hypertension, arrhythmia, and hyperglycemia. Left untreated, PPGLs often lead to life-threatening cardiovascular complications. The estimated prevalence of PPGLs is 0.05% to 0.1% in adults with hypertension and 1.7% in children with hypertension [2]. Recognizing the possibility of a PPGL and performing appropriate biochemical testing are crucial for the diagnosis [1]. Plasma or urine catecholamine levels may be used, in addition to metanephrine levels, to provide additional information during the initial biochemical evaluation of PPGLs (e.g., when detecting dopamine-secreting paragangliomas) [2].

Intermittent or insignificant secretion of catecholamines by some PPGLs may not increase catecholamine measurements. Physiological stress and certain medications (e.g., acetaminophen, labetalol, and sotalol) may increase catecholamine measurements [1].

The results of this test should be interpreted in the context of pertinent clinical and family history and physical examination findings.

Reference

1. Lenders JW, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(6):1915-1942.
2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology (NCCN Guidelines®). Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors. V1.2022. Accessed June 28, 2022. http://www.nccn.org

CPT Codes

82384

Contacts

Last Updated

11/19/2025