Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube Type: 

24 hour urine collection jug

Collection Information: 

Urine Urine must be refrigerated during collection. Send entire 24 hour collection or a 40 mL aliquot with the period and volume documented.

Transport Information: 

An entire 24-hour collection is required for this test. The collection container must have 10 ml of 6M HCL (5 ml for pediatric samples) added before collection begins or be refrigerated throughout the collection with the acid being added once the sample arrives in the laboratory.

Random pediatric collections are acceptable for pediatric patients.

Minimum Sample Volume: 

10 mL

Remarks: 

The patient should not be given any of the following: ajmaline, epinephrine, glucagon, guanethidine, histamine, high insulin doses, levodopa, lithium, nitroglycerin, or Raulwolfia alkaloids (increased VMA levels); or Clonidine, debrisoquin, disulfiram, guanethidine, imipramine, MAO inhibitors, morphine, Raulwolfia alkaloids, or radiographic agents (decreased VMA levels).

Specimens collected between 22-26 hours will be accepted as 24 hour specimens.  Anything less than 22 hours or greater than 26 hours  will be ordered as a "Random" specimen and should include a Period and Volume measurement.

Unacceptable Conditions: 

Does not meet specimen collection/transport requirements.