Description
Estimation of catecholamines in blood requires arterial catheterization, because the amount of it in venous blood may be influenced by local changes in the perfused area and thus does not represent overall production whereas, the free catecholamines excreted in urine constitute only a few percent of the amount delivered intravenously, but this proportion seems to be fairly constant. The average 24-hour excretion of free catecholamines in urine is generally about 30-70 mg, of which about 20% is adrenaline and the rest is noradrenaline. About 300 mg of dopamine is also excreted daily.See Also Catecholamines Fractionation (Adrenaline, Noradrenaline & Dopamine)
Indications
The estimation of free catecholamines in urine has provided a useful method for obtaining a relative measure of the production over a given time period.
Sample Type, Quantity & Conditions
30 ml of 24 Hrs Urine Room Temperature
Special Precautions
Add HCl as preservative, pH 4-6. Observe diet and discontinue interfering drugs. State 24 Hrs urine volume.
Normal Range
> 16 Yrs 10.0 - 100.0 µg/24 Hrs <16 Yrs 0.2 - 2.0 µg/24 Hrs
