What should you know about a catecholamines urine test?

Catecholamines are chemical messengers, including adrenaline and noradrenaline, made mainly by the adrenal glands and nervous system. A clinician may request this test when symptoms such as episodes of pounding heartbeat, sweating, headache, shakiness, or sudden high blood pressure need investigation. The result is interpreted with your symptoms, examination, and other tests; an abnormal result does not by itself identify a tumour or confirm a diagnosis.

The sample is often collected over a set period in a special container rather than as a single casual sample. Medicines, supplements, strenuous activity, stress, caffeine, nicotine, and some foods can affect results, so the laboratory or clinician should give you specific instructions.

Follow the collection instructions carefully, keep the container as directed, and record the start and finish times if a timed collection is requested. Do not stop prescribed medicines unless the clinician tells you to. Tell the team about every medicine, supplement, and substance you use. Ask what to avoid before or during collection, and return the sample promptly according to the laboratory’s instructions.

Contact a clinician promptly for repeated episodes of severe headache with palpitations, sweating, marked weakness, fainting, chest pain, or very high blood pressure. Seek emergency help for chest pain, severe breathlessness, collapse, confusion, or new weakness on one side. A urine result should be reviewed with the requesting clinician rather than interpreted alone.

Ask why the test is needed, whether any medicine or food must be paused, how to handle a missed collection, when results are expected, and which follow-up test may be considered.