Homovanillic Acid (HVA), Urine
Also known as: HVA U
Use
The Homovanillic Acid (HVA), Urine test is used as an initial test for the diagnosis and monitoring of neuroblastoma. It reflects the excretion levels of catecholamine metabolites, and significant increases in these levels may indicate the presence of a secreting neuroendocrine tumor. This test helps assess catecholamine metabolite levels, which can be elevated due to various factors including neuroendocrine tumors, extreme anxiety, essential hypertension, physical exercise, or drug interactions.
Special Instructions
Patients are advised to abstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection to avoid interference with test results. This is a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) and is approved by New York state. For optimal results, the test should be conducted on a 24-hour urine collection, which needs to be refrigerated during the collection period. Any specimen types other than urine are deemed unacceptable.
Limitations
While the test is useful in diagnosing neuroblastoma and related conditions, moderate elevations in HVA may result from essential hypertension, intense physical exercise, or anxiety rather than neuroendocrine tumors. Furthermore, certain medications and drugs can unpredictably affect catecholamine metabolite levels, potentially confounding the results. Results must be interpreted carefully, especially in specimens with notable deviations in collection time or volume, where the ratios may be more informative than absolute concentrations.
New York Approved
Methodology
Mass Spectrometry
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 35674-1
- 2162-6
- 2436-4
- 49269-4
- 59587-6
- 13760-4
- 19153-6
- 30211-7
Result Turnaround Time
1-5 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Urine
Volume
4 mL aliquot from a 24-hour collection
Minimum Volume
1 mL
Container
ARUP standard transport tube
Collection Instructions
Collect a 24-hour urine and refrigerate during collection. Transfer a 4 mL aliquot from a well-mixed 24-hour collection to an ARUP standard transport tube. Record total volume and collection time interval on transport tube and test request form.
Patient Preparation
Abstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerated during collection and transport.
Causes for Rejection
Specimen types other than urine.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | Unacceptable |
| Refrigerated | 1 week |
| Frozen | 2 weeks |