Laboratory Lab results are too important to go anywhere else.

Homovanillic Acid (HVA), Urine Random

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231180, Beaker: XHVAU, ARUP: 3018862

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Patient Preparation: Abstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): Random urine in a screw-capped container (preferred) or other sterile collection container. (Minimum: 2.5 mL)

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimens refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 4.0 mL random urine, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Samples not kept refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Maintain specimens refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Transport: 4.0 mL random urine, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (with preservative) (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 14 days

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 ARUP Laboratory, Salt Lake City, UT.

Performed

Tuesday – Sunday.
Results available in 1-5 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Quantitative High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Interpretation

Homovanillic acid (HVA) results are expressed as a ratio to creatinine excretion (mg/g CRT). No reference interval is available for results reported in units of mg/L. Slight or moderate increases in catecholamine metabolites may be due to extreme anxiety, essential hypertension, intense physical exercise, or drug interactions. Significant increase of one or more catecholamine metabolites (several times the upper reference limit) is associated with an increased probability of a secreting neuroendocrine tumor.

Clinical Utility

This assay is helpful in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, or ganglio-blastoma and to monitor the patient's response to therapy. If neuroblastoma is suspected, it is best to determine Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA), Urine levels since either dopamine or norepinephrine could be increased.

CPT Codes

83150

Contacts

Last Updated

4/8/2025