5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid

General

Synonym/Acronym:
5-HIAA.

Rationale
To assist in diagnosing carcinoid tumors.

Patient Preparation
There are no fluid or activity restrictions unless by medical direction. Inform the patient that foods and medications listed under “Interfering Factors” should be restricted by medical direction for at least 4 days before specimen collection. Usually, a 24-hr urine collection is ordered. As appropriate, provide the required urine collection container and specimen collection instructions.

Normal Findings
Method: High-pressure liquid chromatography.

Conventional UnitsSI Units (Conventional Units × 5.23)
2–7 mg/24 hr10.5–36.6 micromol/24 hr

Critical Findings and Potential Interventions
N/A

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