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Test Directory 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA), 24-Hour Urine without Creatinine

5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA), 24-Hour Urine without Creatinine

Test Summary

Values above 10 mg/24-hours occur in carcinoid syndrome. Slight elevations also occur in nontropical sprue and after reserpine administration. Drugs which can interfere with testing due to physiologic response: Acetaminophen, alpha and beta blockers, atenolol, bromocriptine, bronchodilators, clonidine, digoxin, isoniazid, L-dopa, labetalol, methyldopa, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, nitroglycerin, sympathomimetic amines, phenobarbital, phenothiazines, phentolamine, reserpine, salicylates, tricyclic antidepressants.

Aliases

Specimen Collection

Special Instructions

N/A

Preferred Specimen

10 mL aliquot from a 24-hour urine that has been preserved with 25 mL 6N HCl, collected in a plastic 24-hour urine container

Minimum Volume

5 mL

Instructions

Collect 24-hour urine with 25 mL 6N HCl to maintain a pH ≤3. If no preservative is used, specimen must be stored refrigerated during collection but shipped frozen and pH must be ≤6.
Record 24-hour urine volume and patient's age on test request form and urine container.

Patient Preparation

Patient should avoid food high in indoles: avocado, banana, tomato, plum, walnut, pineapple, and eggplant

Storage

N/A

Transport Temperature

Preserved urine: Room temperature
Unpreserved urine: Frozen

Specimen Stability

Preserved urine
Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 30 days
Unpreserved urine
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: 30 days

Limitations

Patients with renal disease may display falsely decreased results. Urinary 5-HIAA is increased in patients with malabsorption disorders who also display a larger concentration of urinary tryptophan metabolites. Urinary 5-HIAA is increased in patients with intestinal obstruction and with some noncarcinoid islet cell tumors. Carcinoid syndrome may not cause elevated results, especially if the patient does not have diarrhea.

Other Acceptable Specimens

Aliquot from a 24-hour urine, unpreserved with a pH ≤6, collected in a plastic 24-hour urine container

Unacceptable Specimens

Preserved urine received refrigerated with a pH >3 • Unpreserved urine received frozen with pH >6

Order Code

5HIAA

EPIC (Premier) Code

LAB005

Includes

CPT code 81050 may be added at an additional charge for volume measurement

CPT Code

83497

Billing Code

700000

CPT Statement

Methodology

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

FDA Status

This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has determined that such clearance or approval is not necessary. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Physician Attestation of Informed Consent

N/A

Testing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
33608 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano CA, 92675

Reference Range

<2 Years	Not established
2-10 Years	≤8.0 mg/24 h
>10 Years	≤6.0 mg/24 h

Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time

Tuesday - Saturday morning; Report available: 1 day