Urine Catecholamines is no longer routinely offered and has been replaced by Urine Metanephrines.
Clinical practice guidelines recommend the measurement of metanephrines in plasma or urine over catecholamines for the diagnosis and monitoring of phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Metanephrines (normetanephrine, metanephrine and 3-methoxytyramine), also known as metadrenalines, are the O-methylated metabolites of catecholamines (noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine respectively).
If VMA or HVA are requested on a child, please consult Chemical Pathologist (ph:03 9496 5140).
