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Validity of urinary monoamine assay sales under the “spot baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing marketing model”

Review

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Authors: Hinz M, Stein A, Uncini T

Published Date July 2011 Volume 2011:4 Pages 101 - 113
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJNRD.S22783

Marty Hinz1, Alvin Stein2, Thomas Uncini3
1Clinical Research, Neuro Research Clinics Inc, Cape Coral, FL; 2Stein Orthopedic Associates, Plantation, FL; 3Laboratory, Fairview Regional Medical Center-Mesabi, Hibbing, MN, USA

Abstract: Spot baseline urinary monoamine assays have been used in medicine for over 50 years as a screening test for monoamine-secreting tumors, such as pheochromocytoma and carcinoid syndrome. In these disease states, when the result of a spot baseline monoamine assay is above the specific value set by the laboratory, it is an indication to obtain a 24-hour urine sample to make a definitive diagnosis. There are no defined applications where spot baseline urinary monoamine assays can be used to diagnose disease or other states directly. No peer-reviewed published original research exists which demonstrates that these assays are valid in the treatment of individual patients in the clinical setting. Since 2001, urinary monoamine assay sales have been promoted for numerous applications under the “spot baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing marketing model”. There is no published peer-reviewed original research that defines the scientific foundation upon which the claims for these assays are made. On the contrary, several articles have been published that discredit various aspects of the model. To fill the void, this manuscript is a comprehensive review of the scientific foundation and claims put forth by laboratories selling urinary monoamine assays under the spot baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing marketing model.

Keywords: monoamine, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, urine, urinary





 

Other articles by Dr Marty Hinz

A pilot study differentiating recurrent major depression from bipolar disorder cycling on the depressive pole
Amino acid management of Parkinson’s disease: a case study
Amino acid-responsive Crohn's disease: a case study
APRESS: apical regulatory super system, serotonin, and dopamine interaction
Monoamine depletion by reuptake inhibitors
Neurotransmitter testing of the urine: a comprehensive analysis
Relative nutritional deficiencies associated with centrally acting monoamines
The discrediting of the monoamine hypothesis
The dual-gate lumen model of renal monoamine transport
Treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with monoamine amino acid precursors and organic cation transporter assay interpretation
Urinary neurotransmitter testing: considerations of spot baseline norepinephrine and epinephrine


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