Homovanillic Acid (HVA), Urine

Also known as: HVA U

Clinical Use

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

Not provided.

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.

Test Details

New York Approved

Methodology

Mass Spectrometry

Biomarkers

Creatinine

Analyte

Creatinine Level

Concentration / Level • Quantitative (Continuous) (e.g., copies/mL, % expression)

Homovanillic Acid (HVA)

Analyte

HVA Level

Concentration / Level • Quantitative (Continuous) (e.g., copies/mL, % expression)

LOINC Codes

Result Codes

35674-1 - Creat ?Tm Ur-mCnc
2162-6 - Creat 24h Ur-mRate
2436-4 - HVA 24h Ur-mRate
49269-4 - HVA & Creat Ur-Imp
59587-6 - HVA ?Tm Ur-mCnc
13760-4 - HVA/Creat 24h Ur
19153-6 - Specimen vol ?Tm Ur
30211-7 - Specimen collect Time Spec

Result Turnaround Time

1-5 days

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.