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Cortisol Saliva Test Results (1 replies):Hi, Before I go to my Doctor's I thought I would ask ...[more]
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"5-HIAA may be ordered by itself or along with a blood serotonin level to help diagnose and monitor carcinoid tumors. A 24-hour urine sample is preferred for the 5-HIAA test because the metabolite level in the urine can vary during the day. A random urine sample is sometimes tested, usually along with a urine creatinine level, when a 24-hour sample is not feasible. The random sample is not as accurate, however, and if the excess 5-HIAA is released intermittently, then it may be missed.
A significantly increased level of 5-HIAA in a 24-hour urine sample in a patient with carcinoid syndrome symptoms is suggestive but not diagnostic of a carcinoid tumor. In order to diagnose the condition, the tumor itself must be located and a sample of it examined. The doctor will frequently follow an abnormal test result with an order for an imaging scan to help locate any tumor(s) that may be present. "
You have to talk to your doctor about if your test is significant or not.