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Test ID VH Vanillylmandelic Acid and Homovanillic Acid, Random, Urine

Reporting Name

VMA and HVA, Random, U

Useful For

First preferred test for screening for catecholamine-secreting tumors in a random urine specimen when requesting both homovanillic acid and vanillylmandelic acid

 

Supporting a diagnosis of neuroblastoma

 

Monitoring patients with a treated neuroblastoma

Specimen Type

Urine


Advisory Information


In the past, this test has been used to screen for pheochromocytoma. However, vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) is not the analyte of choice to rule out a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Recommended tests for that purpose include:

-PMET / Metanephrines, Fractionated, Free, Plasma

-METAF / Metanephrines, Fractionated, 24 Hour, Urine

-CATU / Catecholamine Fractionation, Free, 24 Hour, Urine



Necessary Information


1. Patient's age is required.

2. All patients receiving L-dopa should be identified to the laboratory when this test is ordered.

3. Bactrim may interfere with detection of the analyte. All patients taking Bactrim should be identified to the laboratory when this test is ordered.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: Administration of L-dopa may falsely increase homovanillic acid and vanillylmandelic acid results; it should be discontinued 24 hours prior to and during collection of specimen.

Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)

Collection Container/Tube: Clean, plastic urine collection container

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic, 10-mL urine tube

Specimen Volume: 5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect a random urine specimen.

2. Adjust urine pH to 1 to 5 with 50% acetic or hydrochloric acid.


Specimen Minimum Volume

2 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Frozen  180 days

Reference Values

VANILLYLMANDELIC ACID

<1 year: <25.0 mg/g creatinine

1 year: <22.5 mg/g creatinine

2-4 years: <16.0 mg/g creatinine

5-9 years: <12.0 mg/g creatinine

10-14 years: <8.0 mg/g creatinine

≥15 years: <7.0 mg/g creatinine

 

HOMOVANILIC ACID

<1 year: <35.0 mg/g creatinine

1 year: <30.0 mg/g creatinine

2-4 years: <25.0 mg/g creatinine

5-9 years: <15.0 mg/g creatinine

10-14 years: <9.0 mg/g creatinine

≥15 years: <8.0 mg/g creatinine

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Monday, Thursday; 8 a.m.

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

83150-HVA

84585-VMA

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
VH VMA and HVA, Random, U 90250-2

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
2143 Vanillylmandelic Acid, VH 3124-5
2144 Homovanillic Acid, VH 11146-8

Clinical Information

Elevated values of homovanillic acid (HVA), vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), and other catecholamine metabolites (eg, dopamine) may be suggestive of the presence of a catecholamine-secreting tumor (eg, neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, or other neural crest tumors). HVA and VMA levels may also be useful in monitoring patients who have been treated as a result of the above-mentioned tumors. HVA levels may also be altered in disorders of catecholamine metabolism: monamine oxidase-A deficiency can cause decreased urinary HVA values, while a deficiency of dopamine beta-hydrolase (the enzyme that converts dopamine to norepinephrine) can cause elevated urinary HVA values.

Interpretation

Homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) concentrations are elevated in more than 90% of patients with neuroblastoma; both tests should be performed. A positive test could be due to a genetic or nongenetic condition. Additional confirmatory testing is required.

 

A normal result does not exclude the presence of a catecholamine-secreting tumor.

 

Elevated HVA and VMA values are suggestive of a pheochromocytoma, but they are not diagnostic.

Clinical Reference

1. Hyland K: Disorders of neurotransmitter metabolism. In: Blau N, Duran M, Blaskovics ME, Gibson KM, eds. Physician’s Guide to the Laboratory Diagnosis of Metabolic Diseases. Springer; 2003:107-122. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-55878-8_8

2. Gitlow SE, Bertani LM, Rausen A, Gribetz D, Dziedzic SW: Diagnosis of neuroblastoma by qualitative and quantitative determination of catecholamine metabolites in urine. Cancer. 1970 Jun;25(6):1377-1383

3. Strenger V, Kerbl R, Dornbusch HJ, et al: Diagnostic and prognostic impact of urinary catecholamines in neuroblastoma patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2007 May;48(5):504-509

4. Barco S, Gennai I, Reggiardo G, et al: Urinary homovanillic and vanillylmandelic acid in the diagnosis of neuroblastoma: report from the Italian Cooperative Group for Neuroblastoma. Clin Biochem. 2014 Jun;47(9):848-852

5. Matthay KK, Maris JM, Schleiermacher G, et al: Neuroblastoma. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016 Nov 10;2:16078. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.78. PMID: 27830764

Analytic Time

2 days (not reported on Sunday)

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)