Specimen Type/Requirements

Sterile or non-sterile specimen container - Urine

Patient should avoid food high in indoles: avocado, banana, cantaloupe, dates, eggplant, grapefruit, honeydew melon, kiwi fruit, melons, pineapple, plums, tomato and tomato predicts, any nuts including butternuts, hickory nuts, pecans, and walnuts.

Patient should also avoid alcohol and tobacco products, including nicotine patch and supplemental products.

Patient should also avoid caffeinated food and beverages including chocolate, tea, coffee and soft drinks.

Patient should avoid acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin and aspirin containing products, antihistamines, cough syrups containing expectorant, cold and flu medications and L-dopa. Contact your health care provider before discontinuing ANY medications.

Adjust pH after collection to a pH below 3 with 6N HCl.

Urine without preservative is acceptable, if pH is below 6 and shipped frozen.

Serotonin Patient Instructions English

Serotonin Patient Instructions Spanish