Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA), Urine

Specimen requirement

Spot urine

Special acid urine bottle

Volume: 10 mL

(* Do not discard the acid preservatives inside the bottle!)
Authorisation code required No
24 Hr available service No
Precaution

Guideline for Specimen Collection

  1. Obtain acid-preserved urine container for collection of spot urine sample.

  2. Avoid coffee, tea, bananas, chocolate, cocoa and vanilla for 24 hours prior to and during the collection period.
Method

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Reference interval
Age (Years) Cut-Off Value

< 1.5

< 14 µmol/mmol Cr

> 1.5 to < 6

< 9 µmol/mmol Cr

> 6 to < 12

< 6 µmol/mmol Cr

> 12

< 3 µmol/mmol Cr

For patients > 12 years who have a history of neuroblastoma and are currently in remission, the observed spot VMA/Cr ratio is < 3 µmol/mmol Cr based on local laboratory data.

(Source:
1. Reference intervals for age < 12 years were established using samples from local population.

2. Reference interval for age > 12 years was modified from Clin Biochem. 2009; 42: 536 - 9.)
Clinical indication Diagnosis of catecholamine-secreting neurochromaffin tumours (i.e. pheochromocytomas, paragangliomas, or neuroblastomas)
Result interpretation

Increased urine excretion is found in phaeochromocytomas, neuroblastoma and related tumors.

See also urine catecholamines, urine free metanephrines.
Measurement of uncertainty See table.
Frequency of measurement Biweekly