Catecholamines test explained
71–485 mcg/24 h, converted (MedlinePlus, molar mass 153.18 g/mol)
- Updated
- 2026-09-10
- Every number with its source
What catecholamines are and why they are tested
Catecholamines are hormones made by the adrenal medulla and by nerve cells: adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. They help the body respond to stress and regulate blood pressure, heart rhythm and the amount of sugar in the blood. Once released into the blood, catecholamines are broken down by the liver and the kidneys and removed in the urine. That is why a 24-hour urine test makes it possible to assess their total production over a whole day — more accurately than a single blood test, whose result can swing sharply within a few minutes.
The urine test is done more often than the blood test, because the amount of catecholamines in the blood changes quickly, while in urine it builds up over the whole day and reflects the average amount. The test matters most when rare tumours of the adrenal glands or the nervous system are suspected — a pheochromocytoma in adults and a neuroblastoma in children — which produce too much of these hormones. Alongside the catecholamines themselves, their breakdown products are often tested as well: metanephrines, normetanephrines and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA).
Reference ranges
| Group | Range, nmol/day | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults — dopamine 71–485 mcg/24 h, converted (MedlinePlus, molar mass 153.18 g/mol) | 464–3,167 | MedlinePlus Reviewed 2025-07-01 | |
| Adults — adrenaline 1–14 mcg/24 h, converted (MedlinePlus, molar mass 183.21 g/mol) | 5–76 | MedlinePlus Reviewed 2025-07-01 | |
| Adults — noradrenaline 14–120 mcg/24 h, converted (MedlinePlus, molar mass 169.18 g/mol) | 83–709 | MedlinePlus Reviewed 2025-07-01 | |
The table gives the adult ranges published by MedlinePlus, converted to nmol per day. The exact interval used by an individual laboratory may differ slightly — you will find it on your own result sheet.
When the test is ordered
- When an adult has hypertension that responds poorly to treatment (resistant hypertension), frequent severe headaches, sweating, a fast heartbeat, attacks of anxiety or numbness of the limbs — when a pheochromocytoma is suspected
- When a child is noticed to have bone pain, a palpable lump in the abdomen, unexplained weight loss or involuntary eye movements — when a neuroblastoma is suspected
- To follow the course of treatment of an already diagnosed pheochromocytoma or neuroblastoma
- After surgical removal of a tumour — to assess whether the hormone level has returned to normal
How to prepare
- For 2–3 days before the test and during it, avoid food and drinks containing caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, bananas, citrus fruit and vanilla — they can distort the result
- Avoid stress and intense physical exertion before and during the test, because this can temporarily raise the catecholamine level
- You must tell your doctor about every medicine you take — some can affect the result; urine is collected for 24 hours according to the laboratory's instructions
A raised catecholamines result
Raised catecholamines in urine are considered a possible sign of an adrenal tumour (a pheochromocytoma) or, in children, of a nervous system tumour (a neuroblastoma) according to MedlinePlus, but the level is also raised by stress, intense physical exertion, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol — without any disease at all. A doctor therefore assesses the result together with the circumstances of the test.
Causes of a raised result
- Pheochromocytoma — a tumour of the adrenal medulla
- Neuroblastoma — a tumour of the nervous system, most often in children
- Paragangliomas — rare forms of tumour arising from nerve tissue
- Severe stress or anxiety during the test
- Intense physical exertion before or during the test
- Caffeine, nicotine or alcohol during the urine collection
Symptoms that can accompany a raised result
- Hypertension that responds poorly to treatment
- Severe headache
- Sweating
- A fast heartbeat
- Anxiety
- Numbness of the limbs
What to discuss with a doctor
- Whether the preparation rules were followed during the test (no caffeine, no stress, certain foods avoided) — if not, the doctor may ask for the test to be repeated
- A blood test for catecholamines or metanephrines, to clarify the picture
- Imaging tests (CT or MRI) of the adrenal glands or the abdomen, looking for a tumour
- A consultation with an endocrinologist about further investigation
Related pages
Other tests explained in English on this site: cortisol, ACTH, growth hormone and parathyroid hormone. See also how to read blood test results and how to prepare for a blood test.
Full site in Lithuanian: proactiva.app
Frequently asked questions
›What is the normal range for catecholamines in urine?
According to MedlinePlus, in urine collected over 24 hours the adult range for dopamine is 71–485 mcg (about 464–3,167 nmol once converted), for adrenaline 1–14 mcg (about 5–76 nmol) and for noradrenaline 14–120 mcg (about 83–709 nmol). The exact interval used by your laboratory may differ slightly — you will find it on your result sheet.
›Why are catecholamines tested in urine and not in blood?
The amount of catecholamines in blood changes very quickly — within a few minutes, depending on stress or movement. A urine sample is collected over 24 hours and reflects the average hormone production across the whole day, which is why, according to MedlinePlus, it is done more often than the blood test.
›Which symptoms can suggest that catecholamines should be tested?
In adults these can be hypertension that responds poorly to treatment, severe headaches, sweating, a fast heartbeat, attacks of anxiety or numbness of the limbs. In children — bone pain, a palpable lump in the abdomen, unexplained weight loss or involuntary eye movements.
›Does a raised catecholamines result always mean a tumour?
No. According to MedlinePlus, the amount of catecholamines in urine can also be raised by stress, intense physical exertion, caffeine, nicotine or alcohol — without any disease. So before the result is judged it matters whether the preparation rules were followed, and a doctor may ask for the test to be repeated.
›How should I prepare for a catecholamines test?
For 2–3 days before the test you should avoid caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, bananas, citrus fruit and vanilla, and also stress and intense physical exertion. You must tell your doctor about the medicines you take, and urine is collected for 24 hours according to the laboratory's instructions.
›What are a pheochromocytoma and a neuroblastoma?
A pheochromocytoma is a rare tumour of the adrenal medulla, appearing most often in adults, which produces too many catecholamines. A neuroblastoma is a tumour of the nervous system, most often diagnosed in children. Both tumours can cause a raised amount of catecholamines in urine or blood.
Sources
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine): Catecholamines - Urine — 2026-09-06
- MedlinePlus: Catecholamine Tests — 2026-09-06
Related markers
This site is not an emergency service. If severe chest or head pain, breathlessness, confusion, difficulty speaking, heavy bleeding or another acute problem has come on suddenly — do not wait for tests, call 112.
This information is not a diagnosis and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, your age and sex — always compare your result with the range printed on your own report.