Department

Biochemistry

UVMA

Preferred Sample Type

Suitable Specimen Types

Plain Spot Urine

1 mL (minimum required)

Specimen Transport

Normal transport to laboratory - ambient temperature

Sample Processing in Laboratory

Adjust pH to 3.0-3.5, store at 4C or frozen for longer term storage.

Sample Preparation

Adjust pH to 3.0-3.5 on receipt in the laboratory

Turnaround Time

48 hours

Sample Stability

Once pH has been adjusted to 3.0-3.5, samples are stable at 4°C for up to 28 days. For long-term storage, store samples at –20°C.

HVA and HMMA/VMA

General Information

Neuroblastoma is a neoplastic disease of infants and early childhood and is the third most common malignant cancer tumours in paediatric patients. Approximately 80% are found in children under 5 years of age. Elevated values of homovanillic acid (HVA, a metabolite of dopamine) and HMMA/VMA (a metabolite of metadrenalines), may be suggestive of the presence of neuroblastoma. HVA and HMMA/VMA can be used for the diagnosis and follow up treatment of neuroblastoma.

Please contact the Duty Biochemist on 0121 424 1392 (or bleep 2506) prior to sending samples for this test.

Patient Preparation

None.

Reference Range

HVA:
Infant: 4 to 25 umol/mmol creatinine

1 year to 5 years: 2 to 15 umol/mmol creatinine

> 5 years: 2 to 13 umol/mmol creatinine

HMMA/VMA:

Infant: 2 to 12 umol/mmol creatinine

1 year to 5 years: 2 to 9 umol/mmol creatinine

> 5 years: 1 to 7 umol/mmol creatinine

Specifications

EQA Scheme?: Yes
EQA Status: NEQAS