PAGE EXPIRES:  June 2000

SYNONYMS:  5-HIAA

COMPONENT TESTS:  none (single test)

SCHEDULE:  Reference Lab turnaround time: 14 working days

SPECIMEN AND COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS:

• 50 mL aliquot of a 24 hour urine
• no preservative or anticoagulant
• plastic container
• refrigerate 24 hour specimen during collection
• adjust specimen pH to 2-3 with 6 mol/L HCl before shipping
• list medications

CAUSES FOR REJECTION:  Improperly labeled specimen; no record of total volume of 24 hour urine

STORAGE AND SHIPPING:  Ship refrigerated or frozen

USES:  

NORMAL VALUES:  < 8 mg/24 hr.  Positive screens will be sent to a commercial reference laboratory for quantification.

METHOD:  Qualitative colorimetric analysis based on the method reported by Undenfriend et al

DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS:  5-HIAA is a metabolic end product of serotonin and is used to evaluate for carcinoid tumors/syndrome. Many dietary substances and drugs contain serotonin and should be excluded from the diet for 72 hours before the urine is collected (e.g. banana, pineapple, tomato, avocado, eggplant, walnut, acetaminophen, guaifenesin, phenacetin, phenothiazine).  There are limitations: Screening test only. Quantitative levels should be sent directly to Bioscientia by your laboratory.

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