Test ID: VMA
Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA), 24 Hour, Urine
Specimen Type 
Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Container/Tube: Plastic, 10-mL urine tube (Supply T068)
Specimen Volume: 5.2 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect a 24-hour urine specimen.
2. Add 25 mL of 50% acetic acid as preservative at the start of collection. If specimen is refrigerated during collection, preservative may be added up to 4 hours after collection. Use 15 mL of 50% acetic acid for children <5 years old. This preservative is intended to achieve a pH of between approximately 1 and 5. If necessary, adjust urine pH to 1 to 5 with 50% acetic or HCl acid.
Additional Information:
1. Patient's age and 24-hour volume are required.
2. Administration of L-dopa may falsely increase vanillylmandelic acid results; it should be discontinued 24 hours prior to and during collection of specimen.
3. See Urine Preservatives in Special Instructions for multiple collections.
Urine Preservative Collection Options
| Ambient | No |
| Refrigerated | No |
| Frozen | No |
| 6N HCl | Yes |
| 50% Acetic Acid | Preferred |
| Na2CO3 | No |
| Toluene | No |
| 6N HNO3 | Yes |
| Boric Acid | Yes* (pH must be <5) |
| Thymol | No |
| *If boric acid is used, note on specimen container. Also, verify that pH is in desired range (pH=1-5). If pH is outside of desired range, adjust pH with a stronger acid (acetic acid is preferred but other acids listed above could be used if available) in a dropwise fashion to bring pH into desired range. | |
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | NA |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days |
| Frozen | 7 days |
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