24-hour urine collections for metanephrine analysis

From Monday 29 September, 24-hour urine collections for metanephrine analysis will be collected into bottles without an acid preservative. This preservative has previously been used to stabilise urine metanephrines in the sample, but urine metanephrines have been shown to be stable both with and without the preservative.

The sample collection requirements will be updated in ICE Order Comms. Patients requiring urine metanephrine analysis should be provided with a plain 5 litre urine container for a 24-hour collection. Samples received in acidified bottles will continue to be accepted, but plain bottles are preferred as they remove any risks associated with the use of an acid preservative.

Please note: acidified bottles will still be provided for 5-HIAA analysis as this analyte is unstable without an acid preservative.

For further information please contact the Clinical Biochemistry laboratory (peh-tr.chemimm@nhs.net [1]).