Catecholamines Test

A catecholamines test measures certain hormones in your pee or blood. These hormones include epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine and dopamine. Your adrenal glands and some nerve cells make them. They help your body respond to stress.

Catecholamines levels rise when you’re stressed. After the stress passes, levels usually return to normal. Your body breaks down these hormones and removes them through your pee.

Levels that stay high may be a sign of rare adrenal tumors, like pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma or neuroblastoma. Your healthcare provider may recommend this test if you have symptoms of one of these conditions. They may also use it to check if treatment for those conditions is working.

How does the test work?

It depends on whether the test uses your blood or pee (urine).

The urine catecholamines test involves collecting all of your pee in 24 hours. The blood test uses a single sample of blood.

The catecholamines urine test is the preferred method because the results are more reliable. But your healthcare provider may recommend a blood test if they suspect a pheochromocytoma. In some cases, you need both tests.

Preparing for the test

Your body’s catecholamines levels are sensitive to physical activity, stress, certain foods and medications. Removing as many of these factors as possible before the test improves its accuracy. Be sure to talk to your provider in advance so you know how to prepare.

You’ll need to avoid certain foods and beverages in the days before the test. These include:

• Caffeinated beverages, like coffee, soda, tea and energy drinks
• Chocolate
• Bananas
• Citrus fruits, like oranges
• Foods containing vanilla

Your provider will ask you to avoid tobacco and alcohol, too. You should also stop exercising a few days before your test.

Certain medications can affect your catecholamines test results. Let your provider know what medications you take. They’ll tell you if you need to do anything different before your test. Don’t stop taking medications without talking to your provider first.

What happens during the test?

If your healthcare provider requests a urine test:

1. The lab provides a container and instructions for collecting your pee.
2. To start, pee in the toilet. Don’t collect this pee.
3. After that first pee, collect your pee for the next 24 hours.
4. Keep the container cold when you aren’t using it, either in your refrigerator or in a cooler on ice.
5. At the same time the next day, pee one last time and add it to your collection.
6. Return the container to the lab or to your healthcare provider.

For a blood test, a healthcare provider takes a sample of blood from a vein in your arm. Then, they send it to a lab for testing.

What do the results of a catecholamines test mean?

It’s normal to have some catecholamines in your blood or pee. Low levels aren’t a cause for concern. If catecholamines levels are high, it’s possible you may have a rare tumor.

But these test results aren’t enough to make a diagnosis. Your healthcare provider may order another test. Or they may order imaging tests, like a CT scan or MRI.

Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions about your test results or what they mean.