Sorted By Test Name - Mayo Medical Laboratories

VH
9254
Useful For: Testing for IgE antibodies may be useful to establish the diagnosis of an allergic disease
and to define the allergens responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms. Testing also may be useful to
identify allergens which may be responsible for allergic disease and/or anaphylactic episode, to confirm
sensitization to particular allergens prior to beginning immunotherapy, and to investigate the specificity of
allergic reactions to insect venom allergens, drugs, or chemical allergens.
Interpretation: Detection of IgE antibodies in serum (Class 1 or greater) indicates an increased
likelihood of allergic disease as opposed to other etiologies and defines the allergens that may be
responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms. The level of IgE antibodies in serum varies directly with the
concentration of IgE antibodies expressed as a class score or kU/L.
Reference Values:
Class IgE kU/L Interpretation
0 Negative
1 0.35-0.69 Equivocal
2 0.70-3.49 Positive
3 3.50-17.4 Positive
4 17.5-49.9 Strongly positive
5 50.0-99.9 Strongly positive
6 > or =100 Strongly positive Reference values
apply to all ages.
Clinical References: Homburger HA: Allergic diseases. In Clinical Diagnosis and Management by
Laboratory Methods. 21st edition. Edited by RA McPherson, MR Pincus. New York, WB Saunders
Company, 2007, Chapter 53, Part VI, pp 961-971
Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA) and Homovanillic Acid (HVA),
Pediatric, Urine
Clinical Information: Elevated values of homovanillic acid (HVA), vanillylmandelic acid (VMA),
and other catecholamine metabolites (eg, dopamine) may be suggestive of the presence of a
catecholamine-secreting tumor (eg, neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, or other neural crest tumors).
HVA and VMA levels may also be useful in monitoring patients who have been treated as a result of the
above-mentioned tumors. HVA levels may also be altered in disorders of catecholamine metabolism:
monamine oxidase-A deficiency can cause decreased urinary HVA values, while a deficiency of
dopamine beta-hydrolase (the enzyme that converts dopamine to norepinephrine) can cause elevated
urinary HVA values.
Useful For: Screening children for catecholamine-secreting tumors Supporting a diagnosis of
neuroblastoma Monitoring patients with a treated neuroblastoma
Interpretation: Screening children for catecholamine-secreting tumors* *Positive test could be due to
a genetic or non-genetic condition. Additional confirmatory testing is required. Supporting a diagnosis of
neuroblastoma Monitoring patients with a treated neuroblastoma
Reference Values:
VMA