We want your time with us to be as positive and comfortable as possible. Our vision is to ensure every patient or consumer receives the right treatment at the right time in a safe environment.

We provide a range of support to assist patients, consumers, families and carers to access services at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

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We work with you and your family or carers to set goals for what you want to achieve from your stay in hospital.

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We deliver more than 50 healthcare services in the community and in people's homes, across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

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At the Royal Melbourne Hospital, we offer a range of services and clinics for our patients and consumers. We support people staying in hospital, as well as people coming in for treatment or being treated in the community.

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Victorian Infectious Diseases Service

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As a large public hospital and healthcare provider, we work with health professionals statewide to help deliver patient care. Our career and training opportunities for healthcare workers promote professional development and improve patient outcomes.

Referrals Parkville Connect

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The Royal Melbourne Hospital is one of Australia’s leading public healthcare providers. Join the team. Build a career.

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There's a range of clinical learning opportunities at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH).

For GPs

Our GP Liaison team helps GPs and other health professionals to navigate and refer patients to services at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH). We work to improve communication between the hospital and primary care

Pathology Handbook

The RMH Pathology Handbook is a reference guide to help clinicians select tests and collect the correct specimen.

Research

Catecholamines (Plasma)

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Pseudonyms

ADR, NORADR, DOPA, Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, Dopamine

Collection Requirements

6 mL Lithium Heparin NO GEL on ice. Sample collected via an indwelling catheter after 30 mins in a quiet room with minimal disturbance to the patient.

Tube Colour

Dark Green On Ice

Test image(s)

Requires own tube?

Department

Biochemistry

Reference Interval

Noradrenaline 1.0 - 5.0 nmol/L; Adrenaline 0.0 - 1.0 nmol/L; Dopamine 0.0 - 0.5 nmol/L

Availability

Weekly

Reference Laboratory

Austin Pathology, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Vic 3084. tel 03 9496 3100; Fax 03 9496 1674

Fee

Medicare rebatable Item 66780

Notes

Testing for plasma free metanephrines (the O-methylated metabolites of catecholamines) is now considered the preferred test in screening for the presence of neuroendocrine secreting tumours such as phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Ref: Lenders et al 2002, JAMA 287:1427-1434

Test code: PCAT

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