Test Catalog

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Test ID: HVA    
Homovanillic Acid (HVA), 24 Hour, Urine

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Screening children for catecholamine-secreting tumors with a 24-hour urine collection when requesting homovanillic acid only

 

Monitoring neuroblastoma treatment

 

Screening patients with possible inborn errors of catecholamine metabolism

Highlights

Homovanillic acid (HVA) measurement in urine is used for screening children for catecholamine-secreting tumors such as neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, and other neural crest tumors and monitoring those who have had treatment for these tumors.

 

HVA measurement is also useful to diagnose children with disorders of catecholamine metabolism such as monoamine oxidase-A deficiency and dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency, which results in either decreased or elevated urinary HVA values, respectively.

 

Treatment with L-dopa can impact test results and should be discontinued 24 hours prior to collection. Bactrim can impact test results and should be noted at time of collection.

Special Instructions Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

NY State Available Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Homovanillic Acid (HVA), 24 Hr, U

Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

HVA (Homovanillic Acid)
Neuroblastoma Profile