ASSAYS FOR PLASMA AND URINE SAMPLES

Epinephrine (Adrenaline), Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) together with Dopamine constitute the group of catecholamines, which play an important role as hormones and neurotransmitters.
After they have exerted their effects, the catecholamines are broken down via intermediate products (Metanephrine, Normetanephrine, 3-Methoxytyramin respectively) and finally excreted in urine.
Diseases which are associated with altered levels of catecholamines include hypertonia, degenerative heart diseases, and catecholamine-producing tumors (pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroma). Of these, pheochromocytoma has the greatest significance. Around 10% of all pheochromocytomas show malignant growth and an unidentified pheochromocytoma poses a serious health risk to the patient.
The determination of catecholamines is therefore essential in patients with suspected pheochromocytoma.

CATECHOLAMINES ASSAYS FOR PLASMA AND URINE SAMPLES

This group of assays is intended for the measurement of the catecholamines Epinephrine (Adrenaline), Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) and Dopamine in urine and/or plasma samples.
Principle of these assays:
All three catecholamines are extracted in one run from the plasma or urine samples using an extraction plate which is coated with a cis-diolspecific affinity gel. After this very effective and efficient extraction procedure the catecholamines are modified and enzymatically converted into their corresponding N-Acyl-derivatives. For the quantification of these N-Acyl-derivatives RIA or ELISA methods are available.