Metanephrines Blood Test

Your healthcare practitioner may advise this test to rule out the possibilities of adrenal gland tumour.

This test is especially recommended for an individual younger than the age of 40, experiencing a sudden burst of high blood pressure. Specific symptoms related to adrenal tumours and elevated metanephrine levels are as follows:

• Palpitation
• Sweating
• Severe headaches
• Rise and fall in blood pressure
• Tremors
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Heat intolerance
• Weight loss
• Anxiety

Though a metanephrine urine test is also available, a blood test is preferred because it is more sensitive and has comparatively less chance for false-positive results.

Metanephrine blood test requires specific preparations. You will be advised not to eat or drink anything except water from midnight before the test. 

Exercising vigorously or drinking caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea or cola is prohibited before the test. Avoid consuming alcohol or smoking cigarettes before the test as well. Inform your doctor if you are taking any prescribed, non-prescribed, legal or illicit medicines. Paracetamol should not be taken for five days before the test. If you are on blood thinners or antidepressants, inform your doctor before the test. Certain medicines, such as levodopa, lithium and nitroglycerine, should also be avoided. However, do not skip any medication without asking your doctor.

Your healthcare practitioner will ask you to lie down for at least 15-30 minutes before the test. He/she will then collect a blood sample from a vein in your arm using a sterile needle - you may experience mild main. This procedure usually takes 45 minutes to an hour for completion. 

Some risks associated with blood tests are:

• Dizziness
• Multiple punctures to locate the vein
• Accumulation of blood under the skin (hematoma)

Normal results:

Normal results indicate that you don’t have adrenal gland tumour. Normal levels for metanephrine and normetanephrine are as follows:

• Metanephrine: 12-60 pg/mL
• Normetanephrine: 18-111 pg/mL

Abnormal results

High metanephrine blood levels and their indications are as follows:

• Slight to moderate elevation: Indicates low chances of adrenal gland tumour.
  • Metanephrine: 61-236 pg/mL
  • Normetanephrine: 112-400 pg/mL

• Larger elevation: Indicates high chances of adrenal gland tumour such as pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma and neuroblastoma.
  • Metanephrine: more than 236 pg/mL
  • Normetanephrine: more than 400 pg/mL

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.