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Homovanillic Acid (HVA), urine
Alternate test name
Lab area
Clinical Biochemistry - Special
Method and equipment
LC-MS/MS
Expected turn-around time
7 days
Specimen type
20 mL Urine
Specimen requirements
- Collect in container with acid preservative
- Random collection use sterile screw top container
- 24h collection preferred. Preservative: 6N HCl. For 24h collection:
<1yr - 2 mL 6N HCl
1-5yrs - 5 mL 6N HCl
>5yrs - 10 mL 6N HCl
- Also acceptable, but less reliable: random (spot) sample (20 mL min) in a screw top urine container with 0.5 mL 6N HCl as preservative.
Storage and transportation
Frozen
Background and clinical significance
Homovanillic acid has been identified as the principal urinary metabolite of dopa and dopamine. HVA supports the diagnosis of neuroblastoma and malignant pheochromocytoma.
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