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Homovanillic Acid - 24 Hour Urine

Source 24 Hour Urine
Mnemonic UHVA
Specimen Requirements Extra-regional sites: see Homovanillic Acid, Extra-regional - 24 Hour Urine 80 mL aliquot of acidified 24 hour urine collection. Refer to charts in Specimen Handling and Additional Information sections.
If test is ordered at the same time as Oxalate, collect with HCl instead of Sulfamic acid. See Oxalate.

Refrigerate during collection.
Urine specimen collection container must have preservative pouch(es) added prior to collection.
Specimen Handling

 

 

 Collection type

Weight of Sulfamic acid in pouch

24 hour collections for
newborn up to 4 years

See Pediatric 24 Hour Urine Acidification chart below

 

 24 Hour Collections:

  • Acidify specimen in original collection container.
  • RECORD 24 hour volume and collection (start and end) dates and time in space provided on requisition.
  • Mix well and pour off acidified aliquot.
  • Sample pH should be less than 3.0.

Deliver specimens to CLS Analytical Toxicology who will redirect to U of A as required.

Additional Information

Drugs containing gentisic or homogentisic acid (anti-rheumatic drugs) can interfere with HVA quantitation. Patient should be off the following drugs: methyldopa (Aldomet), L-dopa (Sinemet), buspirone, isoproterenol, labetalol, oxprenolol, mandelamine, metoclopramide, acetaminophen, codeine products, MAOIs for three days before test. Patient's physician must be consulted about medication discontinuation. 

Two days prior to collecting specimen, the patient should abstain from bananas, vanilla, chocolate, and caffeine beverages.


Testing Location University of Alberta
Testing Frequency Within 3 weeks of receipt at University of Alberta
Alternate Name(s) HVA - 24 Hour Urine
Reference Interval