Catecholamine Tests
Reviewed
Also called: Dopamine test, Norepinephrine test, Epinephrine test, Free catecholamines, Fractionated catecholamines
Catecholamine tests measure the amount of catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine) in urine or blood. These hormones are released during stress. High levels may indicate rare adrenal or nerve tumors such as pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, or paraganglioma.
Specimen: Urine or blood
Why this test may be ordered
- To diagnose or rule out pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, or paraganglioma
- To see if treatment for these tumors is working
Preparation and collection
You may need to avoid caffeinated foods/drinks, alcohol, tobacco, bananas, citrus fruits, and vanilla for 2-3 days before the test. Avoid stress and vigorous exercise. Tell your provider about all medicines you take. For a blood test, you may need to fast for several hours.
For a urine test, you will collect all urine for 24 hours using a special container stored in a refrigerator. For a blood test, a needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm.
There is no risk to having a urine test. There is very little risk to having a blood test; you may have slight pain or bruising at the needle site.
Understanding results
Catecholamine test results are interpreted by your healthcare provider, who will consider your symptoms, medical history, and other tests. High levels may suggest a tumor but can also be caused by stress, exercise, caffeine, smoking, alcohol, or medications.
- High levels: May be a sign of a pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, or paraganglioma tumor. If you are being treated for such a tumor, high levels may mean treatment is not working. Limitation: High levels do not always indicate a tumor; stress, vigorous exercise, caffeine, smoking, alcohol, and certain medications can increase levels. The test cannot determine if a tumor is cancerous. Next step: Your healthcare provider may order imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI to look for a tumor.
- Normal levels: Typically indicates that catecholamine levels are within the expected range, making a tumor less likely. Limitation: Normal levels do not completely rule out a tumor, especially if symptoms persist. Levels can fluctuate and may be normal at the time of testing. Next step: If you continue to have symptoms, your provider may consider other tests or repeat the test.
- Cannot determine if a tumor is cancerous.
- High levels can be caused by stress, exercise, diet, smoking, alcohol, and medications.
- Results must be interpreted with other clinical information and are not diagnostic on their own.
- Blood levels can change quickly and may be affected by the stress of the blood draw.
What to do next
If your results are high, your healthcare provider will likely order additional tests, such as imaging (CT or MRI), to investigate for a possible tumor. If you are being treated for a tumor, high levels may indicate that treatment is not working and your provider may adjust your treatment plan.
- How should I prepare for the test?
- Can stress or exercise affect my results?
- What do my results mean?
- Will I need additional tests if my results are high?
- Is there any risk to the test?