Homovanillic Acid

Label Mnemonic:	HVAUR
Epic code:	LAB7403
Downtime form:	Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery

Commercial Mailout Laboratory
6240-8 RCP
356-8593

Specimen(s):

Random Urine

Collection Medium:

Yellow top round bottom tube (no additive)

Minimum:

Preferred Minimum: 4 mL random urine
Absolute Minimum: 1 mL random urine

Abstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection.

Turn Around Time:

1-5 days upon receipt at reference laboratory

Reference Range:

Components      Age                 Ref. Interval
HVA, Urine      18 years and older  0.0-15.0 mg/d

HVA             0-2 years           0-42 mg/g CRT
                3-5 years           0-22 mg/g CRT
                6-17 years          0-15 mg/g CRT
                18 years and older  0-8 mg/g CRT

Interpretive Data:

Homovanillic acid (HVA) results are expressed as a ratio to creatinine excretion (mg/g cr). HVA mass per day (mg/d) is not reported on specimens from patients younger than 18 years of age, for random specimens, urine collection periods other than 24 hours, or for urine volumes less than 400 mL/d. No reference interval is available for results reported in units of mg/L.

Comments:

Moderately elevated HVA (homovanillic acid) may be caused by a variety of factors such as essential hypertension, intense anxiety, intense physical exercise, and numerous drug interactions (including some over- the-counter medications and herbal products).

Medications which may interfere with catecholamines and their metabolites include amphetamines and amphetamine-like compounds, appetite suppressants, bromocriptine, buspirone, caffeine, chlorpromazine, clonidine, disulfiram, diuretics (in doses sufficient to deplete sodium), epinephrine, glucagon, guanethidine, histamine, hydrazine derivatives, imipramine, levodopa (L-dopa, Sinemet®), lithium, MAO inhibitors, melatonin, methyldopa (Aldomet®), morphine, nitroglycerin, nose drops, propafenone (Rythmol), radiographic agents, rauwolfia alkaloids (Reserpine), and vasodilators. The effects of some drugs on catecholamine metabolite results may not be predictable.

Methodology:

Quantitative High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

CPT Code:

83150

See also:
Catecholamines, Fractionated, Random Urine
Metanephrines Total, Random Urine
Vanillylmandelic Acid, Random Urine

See Additional Information:
Urine Tests Requiring no Preservatives