Noradrenaline (plasma)
What it measures, and what changes the number.
Noradrenaline, also called norepinephrine, is a catecholamine released by nerve endings of the sympathetic nervous system and, to a lesser extent, by the adrenal glands. This test measures the level of free noradrenaline circulating in blood plasma.
It is usually ordered together with plasma adrenaline and dopamine as a catecholamine panel, and it may be considered alongside metanephrine testing, which is not listed separately on this site.
The result is very sensitive to collection conditions. Standing, physical activity, pain, anxiety, cold, caffeine, nicotine and some medicines can all raise it quickly, so labs often ask for the person to rest lying down for a period after a cannula is placed before drawing blood. The sample is typically taken into a chilled tube and processed promptly, and the assay method, often liquid chromatography, affects comparability. Reports may show it as Noradrenalina en plasma.
Often read alongside: Adrenaline (plasma), Dopamine (plasma)