Specimen: 4 mL (2 mL min.) plasma from 2 Lavender top (EDTA) tubes. Overnight fasting is mandatory. Collect specimen with patient in supine position after minimum 30 minutes of rest. Immerse specimen immediately in ice water. Separate plasma within 30 minutes and transfer into sterile screw capped vial. Ship refrigerated or frozen. Patient should strictly avoid drugs like Labetalol, Sotalol, Acetaminophen, Methyldopa, Antidepressants and agents like Ephedrine, Amphetamine, Nicotine and Caffeine etc. Avoid foods like banana, pineapple, nuts and cereals etc. at least 72 hours prior to sample collection.
Stability (Room): 6 hrs
Stability (Refrigerated): 72 hrs
Stability (Frozen): 3 months
Method: LC-MS / MS
Comment: Measurement of plasma free metanephrines by LC-MS/MS is the test of first choice in diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglionomas because it has high diagnostic accuracy. Samples received on holidays will be reported in next schedule/next working day.
Price: Contact Medilab
Turnaround time (TAT): 10 – 15 days
Usage: Metanephrines and Normetanephrines are elevated in catecholamine secreting tumors like Pheochromocytomas and in tumors derived from neural crest cells like Paraganglioma and Neuroblastoma. Measurement of plasma free metanephrines appears to be the best test for excluding Pheochromocytoma as the test’s sensitivity is approximately 96-99 % and offers specificity between 80-100 %. Tumoral production of 3-methoxytyramine is associated with presence of an underlying SDHB mutation and may be a biomarker of malignancy. Following patients with or without hypertension should be investigated for Pheochromocytoma: • Previous history of tumor • Adrenal incidentaloma • Hereditary predisposition
Specialty: Physician, Oncologist
Disease: Hypertension, Cancer
Components: *Metanephrine Free *Normetanephrine Free *3-Methoxytyramine
Courier Charges:
Home Collection: Not Available
Department: GENETIC
Pre-test Information: Patient should strictly avoid drugs like Labetalol, Sotalol, Acetaminophen, Methyldopa, Antidepressants and agents like Ephedrine, Amphetamine, Nicotine and Caffeine etc. Avoid foods like banana, pineapple, nuts and cereals etc. at least 72 hours prior to sample collection.