Test Includes

Quantitation of homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) (mg/g urinary creatinine).

Turnaround Time

Performed Mon-Fri; results are reported the next day.

Use

Diagnosis and monitoring treatment of neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma. The combination of HVA and VMA will give a positive diagnosis in 92% of cases of neuroblastoma. More than 90% of patients with pheochromocytoma will have an elevated VMA. If both VMA and metanephrines are tested, >98% of patients with pheochromocytomas will be detected.

Patient Preparation

Drugs such as L-dopa, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine are metabolized to HVA and VMA and will fictitiously elevate their levels in the urine. Therefore, the patient should not be on such drugs when collecting the urine.

Specimen Type

Urine, random collection, 24 hr collection, or urine absorbed onto filter paper

Collection Containers

Sterile Plastic Leakproof Container
Alternate Containers: Urine filter paper, 3 L plastic jug

Collection Instructions

If using filter paper to obtain collection, obtain filter paper urine collection kit from the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory. The kit includes one 10 X 10 cm absorbent filter paper, patient identification form and directions for specimen collection. Collect as follows:

  •  In young infants, collect from a thoroughly wet diaper not contaminated with stool. Remove top layer of diaper if disposable type. Place filter onto diaper and place diaper on flat, hard surface. Place filter paper between two wet portions of diaper and press with fingertips until the filter becomes wet. Do this until the entire filter is damp (filter will look darker).
  • Ultra absorbent diapers may present a problem in collecting enough urine and are not recommended for this collection. If ultra absorbent diapers are used, place several cotton balls between the diaper and the baby's genitals. The urine in the cotton ball can then be squeezed onto the filter paper.
  • In toilet trained children, collect 5 mL urine.

Place filter paper on top of plastic bag or on a clean non-absorbent surface and let filter paper dry. Label filter paper with patient name and date in pencil (do not use ink). Place dried filter paper and identification form in a plastic leakproof bag.

 

Collection Volume

Submit entire collection; analysis requires 2 mL

Processing Instructions

Aliquot 5 mL, 2 mL minimum. Store urine in refrigerator. Store filter paper at room temperature.

Unacceptable Conditions

Not sufficient urine on the filter paper.

Shipping Instructions

Ship urine at refrigerated temperature. Ship dry filter paper via regular US mail at room temperature. Express mail is recommended. Place the request form and dry filter paper in separate plastic transport bags prior to mailing.

Containers

Sterile Plastic Leakproof Container

Alternate Containers

Urine Filter Paper

3 L Plastic Jug

Reference Interval

Age

HVA (mg/g creat)

VMA (mg/g creat)

0-2 m

0-32.8

0-17.6

3-11 mo

0-33.1

0-24.2

1 y

0-36.0

0-23.0

2-4 y

0-26.4

0-15.4

5-9 y

0-20.6

0-15.3

10-12 y

0-13.9

0-10.9

13 y and older

0-8.9

0-8.1

 

 

CPT Disclaimer

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Codes published in the M Health Fairview Test Directory are based on American Medical Association (AMA) guidelines and are provided for informational purposes only. CPT codes are provided only as guidance to assist clients with billing. CPT coding is the responsibility of the billing party. M Health Fairview Laboratories does not assume responsibility for billing errors due to reliance on the CPT codes listed in this Test Directory. Charges may vary due to reflexing, susceptibilities, specimen source, patient age, methodology requirements, etc..

Patient Price Inquiries

Requester Contact Information
Patient and UMP/FV Care Team Fairview Consumer Line at 612-672-1048
MRL Outreach Client DEPT-MRL-CLIENT-MANAGEMENT@Fairview.org
Research research@fairview.org

CPT Codes

CPTQtyHC HospitalPR ClinicNote
83150130083150028315001HC HOMOVANILLIC ACID URINE
84585130084585028458501HC VMA URINE

Methodology

Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry

MRL Test Build

Test Name Component Required Description Type LOINC
LAB6334     HVA VMA Urine Orderable  
  SRC_1002 Y Urine specimen source: Prompt  
  1230000577   Homovanillic Acid Urine Result 22708-2
  1230000584   Vanillylmandelic Acid Result 3124-5

Data Type / Multiple Choice Response

SRC_1002
Urine, Catheter|Urine, Foley Catheter|Urine, Midstream|Urine, Straight Catheter|Urinary Bladder|Urine, NOS

Contact

For questions regarding the test code Interface Map, please contact DEPT-LAB-CLIENT-INTERFACE@fairview.org
Ordering

Test Includes

Quantitation of homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) (mg/g urinary creatinine).

Turnaround Time

Performed Mon-Fri; results are reported the next day.

Use

Diagnosis and monitoring treatment of neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma. The combination of HVA and VMA will give a positive diagnosis in 92% of cases of neuroblastoma. More than 90% of patients with pheochromocytoma will have an elevated VMA. If both VMA and metanephrines are tested, >98% of patients with pheochromocytomas will be detected.
Collection & Processing

Patient Preparation

Drugs such as L-dopa, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine are metabolized to HVA and VMA and will fictitiously elevate their levels in the urine. Therefore, the patient should not be on such drugs when collecting the urine.

Specimen Type

Urine, random collection, 24 hr collection, or urine absorbed onto filter paper

Collection Containers

Sterile Plastic Leakproof Container
Alternate Containers: Urine filter paper, 3 L plastic jug

Collection Instructions

If using filter paper to obtain collection, obtain filter paper urine collection kit from the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory. The kit includes one 10 X 10 cm absorbent filter paper, patient identification form and directions for specimen collection. Collect as follows:

  •  In young infants, collect from a thoroughly wet diaper not contaminated with stool. Remove top layer of diaper if disposable type. Place filter onto diaper and place diaper on flat, hard surface. Place filter paper between two wet portions of diaper and press with fingertips until the filter becomes wet. Do this until the entire filter is damp (filter will look darker).
  • Ultra absorbent diapers may present a problem in collecting enough urine and are not recommended for this collection. If ultra absorbent diapers are used, place several cotton balls between the diaper and the baby's genitals. The urine in the cotton ball can then be squeezed onto the filter paper.
  • In toilet trained children, collect 5 mL urine.

Place filter paper on top of plastic bag or on a clean non-absorbent surface and let filter paper dry. Label filter paper with patient name and date in pencil (do not use ink). Place dried filter paper and identification form in a plastic leakproof bag.

 

Collection Volume

Submit entire collection; analysis requires 2 mL

Processing Instructions

Aliquot 5 mL, 2 mL minimum. Store urine in refrigerator. Store filter paper at room temperature.

Unacceptable Conditions

Not sufficient urine on the filter paper.

Shipping Instructions

Ship urine at refrigerated temperature. Ship dry filter paper via regular US mail at room temperature. Express mail is recommended. Place the request form and dry filter paper in separate plastic transport bags prior to mailing.
Containers

Containers

Sterile Plastic Leakproof Container

Alternate Containers

Urine Filter Paper

3 L Plastic Jug

Result Interpretation

Reference Interval

Age

HVA (mg/g creat)

VMA (mg/g creat)

0-2 m

0-32.8

0-17.6

3-11 mo

0-33.1

0-24.2

1 y

0-36.0

0-23.0

2-4 y

0-26.4

0-15.4

5-9 y

0-20.6

0-15.3

10-12 y

0-13.9

0-10.9

13 y and older

0-8.9

0-8.1

 

 

Administrative

CPT Disclaimer

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Codes published in the M Health Fairview Test Directory are based on American Medical Association (AMA) guidelines and are provided for informational purposes only. CPT codes are provided only as guidance to assist clients with billing. CPT coding is the responsibility of the billing party. M Health Fairview Laboratories does not assume responsibility for billing errors due to reliance on the CPT codes listed in this Test Directory. Charges may vary due to reflexing, susceptibilities, specimen source, patient age, methodology requirements, etc..

Patient Price Inquiries

Requester Contact Information
Patient and UMP/FV Care Team Fairview Consumer Line at 612-672-1048
MRL Outreach Client DEPT-MRL-CLIENT-MANAGEMENT@Fairview.org
Research research@fairview.org

CPT Codes

CPTQtyHC HospitalPR ClinicNote
83150130083150028315001HC HOMOVANILLIC ACID URINE
84585130084585028458501HC VMA URINE

Methodology

Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry

Interface Mapping

MRL Test Build

Test Name Component Required Description Type LOINC
LAB6334     HVA VMA Urine Orderable  
  SRC_1002 Y Urine specimen source: Prompt  
  1230000577   Homovanillic Acid Urine Result 22708-2
  1230000584   Vanillylmandelic Acid Result 3124-5

Data Type / Multiple Choice Response

SRC_1002
Urine, Catheter|Urine, Foley Catheter|Urine, Midstream|Urine, Straight Catheter|Urinary Bladder|Urine, NOS

Contact

For questions regarding the test code Interface Map, please contact DEPT-LAB-CLIENT-INTERFACE@fairview.org
History