Metanephrines (Urine)
- Description
- Urine metanephrines measured by LC-MS
- Clinical details
Catecholamines are a group of biogenic amines derived from the amino acid tyrosine and bearing the catechol (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-moiety. The group comprises of adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. Measurement of these catecholamines is useful in the diagnosis of neurochromaffin tumours (phaeochromocytoma, neuroblastoma and paragangliomas). Catecholamine secreting tumours account for <0.5% of all hypertensive patients and measuring these biogenic amines is useful for screening purposes.
Noradrenaline and adrenaline are catalysed by catechol-O-methyl transferase to form normetanephrine and metanephrine respectively. Many clinical studies have shown the analysis of urine metanephrines to be more sensitive in phaeochromcytoma diagnosis than urine catecholamines.
- Reference range
24hr Urine Normetanephrine = < 3.7 µmol/24hr, 24hr Urine Metanephrine = < 1.3 µmol/24hr , 24hr Urine 3-Methoxytyramine = <2.6 µmol/24hr
Age (yr) < 5 years old: Random Urine Normetanephrine < 1.15 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine Metanephrine < 0.55 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine 3-Methoxytyramine <1.0 mmol creatinine
Age (yr) 6 – 10 years old: Random Urine Normetanephrine < 0.21 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine Metanephrine < 0.12 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine 3-Methoxytyramine <0.17 mmol creatinine
Age (yr) 11 – 17 years old: Random Urine Normetanephrine < 0.28 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine Metanephrine < 0.11 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine 3-Methoxytyramine <0.21 mmol creatinine
Age (yr) 18 – 90 years old: Random Urine Normetanephrine < 0.37 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine Metanephrine < 0.12 mmol creatinine , Random Urine 3-Methoxytyramine <0.31 mmol creatinine
- Testing site
- Synnovis : Reference Services : Blackfriars Hub
- Laboratory
- Metabolic
- Sample type and volume required
Sample – plain 24hr urine collection (acidified urine is also acceptable). Random samples are also accepted. See the link below for instructions for 24hr Urine Collection:
- Storage and transport
Send the completed 24 hour urine collection to the Central Specimen Reception laboratory ASAP.
- Turnaround time
10 working days.
- Contacts
Metabolic Laboratory at Blackfriars Hub
Phone: 020 4591 0011
Email: Metabolic.Laboratory@synnovis.co.uk
Metabolic Laboratory at Synnovis
Reference Chemistry, Floor One
Friars Bridge Court, 41-43 Blackfriars Road
London, SE1 8NZ