Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 21

False-positive levels of 5-HIAA can be caused by a diet high in:

A. Meat

B. Carbohydrates

C. Starch

D. Bananas

Step 1 of 2

5-HIAA: (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid)

• It is a degradation product of serotonin, which is excreted in urine in small volume

• Patients are instructed for diet before collecting the sample to be tested for 5-HIAA, because serotonin is the chief constituent in bananas, tomatoes, and pineapples

• Hence, intake of such food causes false positive level of 5 HIAA

Therefore, “Bananas” in diet lead to 5-HIAA false positive level. Hence, the correct answer is option.