Serotonin measurement is used in conjunction with urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and/or serum chromogranin A in the diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome.
Monoamine Oxidase inhibitor drugs should be discontinued for at least one week prior to sampling since they test to increase the level of Serotonin
Immediatley following collection, mix sample by gently inverting 5 times
Gold serum separator (SST) tube
Ambient (preferred) - 7 days
Refrigerated - 7 days
Frozen - 14 days
Freeze/thaw cycles: stable x2
Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS)
Age (years) |
Male (ng/mL) |
Female (ng/mL) |
0 - 12 |
46 - 321 |
22 - 271 |
13 - 60 |
31 - 207 |
31 - 207 |
>60 |
23 - 230 |
8 - 217 |