5-HIAA

• On day 1, urinate into the toilet upon arising in the morning.
• Collect all subsequent urine (in a special container) for the next 24-hours.
• On day 2, urinate into the container in the morning upon arising.
• Cap the container. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period. Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed.

Infant:
Thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end), and place it on your infant. For males, the entire penis can be placed in the bag and the adhesive attached to the skin. For females, the bag is placed over the labia. Place a diaper over the infant (bag and all). The infant should be checked frequently and the bag changed after the infant has urinated into the bag. For active infants, this procedure may take a couple of attempts--lively infants can displace the bag, causing an inability to obtain the specimen. The urine is drained into the container for transport to the laboratory.

Deliver it to the laboratory or your health care provider as soon as possible upon completion.

The lab analyzes the sample for the amount of 5-HIAA.

How to Prepare:

• The health care provider will instruct you, if necessary, to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test. Refrain from eating foods that contain interfering substances for 3 days before the test (see Special Considerations).

How it Feels:
The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort.

Risks:
There are no risks.

Why this Test is Performed:
This test is performed to evaluate the amount of 5-HIAA excreted by the body.

Serotonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan by enterochromaffin cells in the gut and bronchi. Serotonin increases dilation of blood vessels and platelet aggregation (clumping of platelets ). It is metabolized in the liver to 5-HIAA and eventually ends up in the urine.

Normal Values:
The normal range is 3 to 15 mg/24 hr

Note: mg/24 hr = milligrams per 24-hours

Abnormal Results:
5-HIAA levels are usually measured to detect and follow the clinical course of patients with carcinoid tumors.

Cost:
The estimated cost is $20 to $40.

Special Considerations:
Drugs that can increase 5-HIAA measurements include acetanilid, phenacetin, glyceryl guaiacolate (found in many cough syrups), methocarbamol, and reserpine.

Drugs that can decrease 5-HIAA measurements include chlorpromazine, heparin, imipramine, isoniazid, levodopa, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, methenamine, methyldopa, phenothiazines, promethazine, and tricyclic antidepressants.

Foods that can interfere with 5-HIAA measurements include plums, pineapples, bananas, eggplant, tomatoes, avocados, and walnuts. Do not eat them for 3 days before the test.