BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCatecholamines - urineDopamine - urine test; Epinephrine - urine test; Adrenalin - urine test; Urine metanephrine; Normetanephrine; Norepinephrine - urine test; Urine catecholamines; VMA; HVA; Metanephrine; Homovanillic acid (HVA)Catecholamines are chemicals made by nerve tissue (including the brain) and the adrenal gland.The main types of catecholamines are dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. These chemicals break down into other components, which leave your body through your urine.A urine test can be done to measure the amount of catecholamines produced by your body. Separate urine tests may be done to measure related substances. Catecholamines can also be measured with a blood test.Blood testThis test measures the levels of catecholamines in the blood. Catecholamines are hormones made by the adrenal glands. The three catecholamines are ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed For this test, you must collect your urine in a special bag or container every time you urinate for a 24-hour period.On day 1, urinate over the toilet when you wake up in the morning and discard that urine. Urinate into the special container every time you use the bathroom for the next 24 hours. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period. On day 2, urinate into the container in the morning again when you wake up. Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed.For an infant, thoroughly wash the area where urine exits the body.Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end). For males, place the entire penis in the bag and attach the adhesive to the skin. PenisThe penis is the male organ used for urination and sexual intercourse. The penis is located above the scrotum. It is made of spongy tissue and bloo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article For females, place the bag over the labia. Diaper as usual over the secured bag.This procedure may take a few tries. An active baby can move the bag causing urine to go into the diaper.Check the infant often and change the bag after the infant has urinated into it. Drain the urine from the bag into the container provided by your health care provider.Deliver the sample to the laboratory or to your provider as soon as possible. How to Prepare for the Test Stress and heavy exercise may affect the test results.StressStress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stres...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some foods can increase catecholamines in your urine. You may need to avoid the following foods and beverages for several days before the test:Bananas Chocolate Citrus fruits Cocoa Coffee Licorice Tea VanillaMany medicines can interfere with test results.Your provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test. Do not stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first. How the Test will Feel The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort. Why the Test is Performed The test is usually done to diagnose an adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma. It may also be used to diagnose a nervous system tumor called neuroblastoma. Urine catecholamine levels are increased in most people with neuroblastoma.PheochromocytomaPheochromocytoma is a rare tumor of adrenal gland tissue. It results in the release of too much epinephrine and norepinephrine, hormones that contro...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article NeuroblastomaNeuroblastoma is a very rare type of cancerous tumor that develops from nerve tissue. It usually occurs in infants and children.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The urine test for catecholamines may also be used to monitor those who are receiving treatment for these conditions. Normal Results All of the catecholamines are broken down into inactive substances that appear in the urine:Dopamine becomes homovanillic acid (HVA) Norepinephrine becomes normetanephrine and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) Epinephrine becomes metanephrine and VMAThe following normal values are the amount of the substance found in the urine over a 24-hour period:Dopamine: 65 to 400 micrograms (mcg)/24 hours (420 to 2612 nmol/24 hours) Epinephrine: 0.5 to 20 mcg/24 hours Metanephrine: 24 to 96 mcg/24 hours (some laboratories give the range as 140 - 785 mcg/24 hours) Norepinephrine: 15 to 80 mcg/24 hours Normetanephrine: 75 to 375 mcg/24 hours Total urine catecholamines: 14 to 110 mcg/24 hours VMA: 2 to 7 milligrams (mg)/24 hours (10 to 35 mcmol/24 hours)Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens. What Abnormal Results Mean Elevated levels of urinary catecholamines may indicate: Acute anxiety or severe stress AnxietyStress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stres...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ganglioneuroblastoma (very rare) Ganglioneuroblastoma is an intermediate tumor that arises from nerve tissues. An intermediate tumor is one that is between benign (slow-growing and ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article GanglioneuroblastomaGanglioneuroblastoma is an intermediate tumor that arises from nerve tissues. An intermediate tumor is one that is between benign (slow-growing and ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Ganglioneuroma (very rare) GanglioneuromaGanglioneuroma is a tumor of the autonomic nervous system.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Neuroblastoma (rare) Pheochromocytoma (rare)The test may also be performed for:Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) IIMultiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) IIMultiple endocrine neoplasia, type II (MEN II) is a disorder passed down through families in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There are no risks. Considerations Several foods and drugs, as well as physical activity and stress, can affect the accuracy of this test.Open ReferencesReferencesGruber HA, Oprea M. Russell YX. Evaluation of endocrine function. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.Young WF. Adrenal medulla, catecholamines, and pheochromocytoma. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 209.AllVideoImagesTogFemale urinary tract - illustration The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.Female urinary tractillustrationMale urinary tract - illustration The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.Male urinary tractillustrationCatecholamine urine test - illustration Catecholamine is a test that measures the level of catecholamines or catecholamine metabolites (break-down products) in urine.Catecholamine urine testillustrationFemale urinary tract - illustration The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.Female urinary tractillustrationMale urinary tract - illustration The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.Male urinary tractillustrationCatecholamine urine test - illustration Catecholamine is a test that measures the level of catecholamines or catecholamine metabolites (break-down products) in urine.Catecholamine urine testillustration Tests for Catecholamines - urine Catecholamines - urineRelated Information Pheochromocytoma(Condition)Neuroblastoma(Condition)Catecholamine blood test(Medical Test)Stress and your health(Symptoms)Ganglioneuroblastoma(Condition)Ganglioneuroma(Condition)Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) II(Condition)Anxiety disorders - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 8/20/2023 Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. 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Catecholamines - urineDopamine - urine test; Epinephrine - urine test; Adrenalin - urine test; Urine metanephrine; Normetanephrine; Norepinephrine - urine test; Urine catecholamines; VMA; HVA; Metanephrine; Homovanillic acid (HVA)Catecholamines are chemicals made by nerve tissue (including the brain) and the adrenal gland.The main types of catecholamines are dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. These chemicals break down into other components, which leave your body through your urine.A urine test can be done to measure the amount of catecholamines produced by your body. Separate urine tests may be done to measure related substances. Catecholamines can also be measured with a blood test.Blood testThis test measures the levels of catecholamines in the blood. Catecholamines are hormones made by the adrenal glands. The three catecholamines are ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed For this test, you must collect your urine in a special bag or container every time you urinate for a 24-hour period.On day 1, urinate over the toilet when you wake up in the morning and discard that urine. Urinate into the special container every time you use the bathroom for the next 24 hours. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period. On day 2, urinate into the container in the morning again when you wake up. Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed.For an infant, thoroughly wash the area where urine exits the body.Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end). For males, place the entire penis in the bag and attach the adhesive to the skin. PenisThe penis is the male organ used for urination and sexual intercourse. The penis is located above the scrotum. It is made of spongy tissue and bloo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article For females, place the bag over the labia. Diaper as usual over the secured bag.This procedure may take a few tries. An active baby can move the bag causing urine to go into the diaper.Check the infant often and change the bag after the infant has urinated into it. Drain the urine from the bag into the container provided by your health care provider.Deliver the sample to the laboratory or to your provider as soon as possible. How to Prepare for the Test Stress and heavy exercise may affect the test results.StressStress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stres...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some foods can increase catecholamines in your urine. You may need to avoid the following foods and beverages for several days before the test:Bananas Chocolate Citrus fruits Cocoa Coffee Licorice Tea VanillaMany medicines can interfere with test results.Your provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test. Do not stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first. How the Test will Feel The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort. Why the Test is Performed The test is usually done to diagnose an adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma. It may also be used to diagnose a nervous system tumor called neuroblastoma. Urine catecholamine levels are increased in most people with neuroblastoma.PheochromocytomaPheochromocytoma is a rare tumor of adrenal gland tissue. It results in the release of too much epinephrine and norepinephrine, hormones that contro...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article NeuroblastomaNeuroblastoma is a very rare type of cancerous tumor that develops from nerve tissue. It usually occurs in infants and children.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The urine test for catecholamines may also be used to monitor those who are receiving treatment for these conditions. Normal Results All of the catecholamines are broken down into inactive substances that appear in the urine:Dopamine becomes homovanillic acid (HVA) Norepinephrine becomes normetanephrine and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) Epinephrine becomes metanephrine and VMAThe following normal values are the amount of the substance found in the urine over a 24-hour period:Dopamine: 65 to 400 micrograms (mcg)/24 hours (420 to 2612 nmol/24 hours) Epinephrine: 0.5 to 20 mcg/24 hours Metanephrine: 24 to 96 mcg/24 hours (some laboratories give the range as 140 - 785 mcg/24 hours) Norepinephrine: 15 to 80 mcg/24 hours Normetanephrine: 75 to 375 mcg/24 hours Total urine catecholamines: 14 to 110 mcg/24 hours VMA: 2 to 7 milligrams (mg)/24 hours (10 to 35 mcmol/24 hours)Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens. What Abnormal Results Mean Elevated levels of urinary catecholamines may indicate: Acute anxiety or severe stress AnxietyStress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stres...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ganglioneuroblastoma (very rare) Ganglioneuroblastoma is an intermediate tumor that arises from nerve tissues. An intermediate tumor is one that is between benign (slow-growing and ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article GanglioneuroblastomaGanglioneuroblastoma is an intermediate tumor that arises from nerve tissues. An intermediate tumor is one that is between benign (slow-growing and ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Ganglioneuroma (very rare) GanglioneuromaGanglioneuroma is a tumor of the autonomic nervous system.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Neuroblastoma (rare) Pheochromocytoma (rare)The test may also be performed for:Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) IIMultiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) IIMultiple endocrine neoplasia, type II (MEN II) is a disorder passed down through families in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There are no risks. Considerations Several foods and drugs, as well as physical activity and stress, can affect the accuracy of this test.Open ReferencesReferencesGruber HA, Oprea M. Russell YX. Evaluation of endocrine function. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.Young WF. Adrenal medulla, catecholamines, and pheochromocytoma. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 209.