Short Name: 5-HIAA
Sample required: Serum
Result Time: 8 Days
5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid is the main metabolite of serotonin, a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan. Therefore, it is used to determine the bodys level of serotonin, and the most frequently used diagnostic test for carcinoid tumors. INCREASED levels are associated with carcinoid tumors, Hartnups disease, and non-tropical sprue. DECREASED levels are found in gastrointestinal tract resection, renal insufficiency, and Phenylketonuria. See also5-Hydroxytryptophan and Serotonin.