Quick Intro

VEI Clinic Apgujeong is an English-friendly internal-medicine clinic providing targeted urinary hormone testing when it changes care. We focus on validated indications (e.g., Cushing’s, pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome)—not on oversized “wellness” panels that don’t guide treatment. We’re on the 3rd floor of Beneheim City, 162 Apgujeong-ro, a short walk from Apgujeong Station (Exit 5).

What We Test (clinically validated)

1) 24-Hour Urinary Free Cortisol (UFC)

  • Why: Screens for Cushing’s syndrome in the right clinical context.
  • How it helps: Measures unbound cortisol excretion over 24 hours; often paired with late-night salivary cortisol or dexamethasone suppression (blood) for confirmation.
  • Notes: Shift work, stress, and certain meds can affect interpretation—your physician will review.

2) Urinary Fractionated Metanephrines (± Catecholamines)

  • Why: Evaluates for pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma in patients with suggestive symptoms (paroxysmal headaches, palpitations, sweating) or adrenal imaging findings.
  • How it helps: Captures metabolites of epinephrine/norepinephrine over 24 hours; sometimes plasma free metanephrines are preferred—your doctor will decide.

3) 24-Hour Urinary 5-HIAA

  • Why: Assesses for carcinoid syndrome (flushing, diarrhea, wheeze).
  • How it helps: Measures a serotonin metabolite; requires diet and medication prep to avoid false results.

4) Targeted hCG (urine) and other case-by-case tests

  • Simple urine pregnancy testing when appropriate.
  • For sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S) and thyroid, we rely on blood tests—urine isn’t the right tool for diagnosis or dose-titration.
We do not use broad “urinary hormone metabolite” mega-panels (often marketed online) to diagnose fatigue, “adrenal burnout,” thyroid issues, or to titrate hormone therapy.

Who This Is For

  • Patients with signs of Cushing’s (easy bruising, proximal muscle weakness, facial rounding, resistant hypertension)
  • Patients with possible pheochromocytoma (spells of severe headache, palpitations, sweating, labile BP) or adrenal incidentaloma
  • Patients with features of carcinoid syndrome (recurrent flushing, secretory diarrhea, wheeze)
  • Individuals sent by a specialist with a clear indication for 24-hour urinary testing

Visit Flow (Typical)

  1. Clinical consult (15–30 min)
    History, medications, symptoms; decide which test(s) are appropriate and whether         blood or saliva is a better first step.
  2. Collection kit & instructions
    We provide a labeled 24-hour jug, preservative (if required), and a         simple checklist in English/Korean.
  3. Drop-off & lab processing
    Return the specimen; we verify completeness (including         urine creatinine to check collection quality).
  4. Results & plan
    Most results in         2–5 business days (some send-outs longer). You’ll receive a plain-English summary and next steps (imaging, confirmatory tests, or reassurance).

How to Prepare (avoid false results)

General 24-Hour Collection Tips

  • Start after emptying your bladder (discard that first urine), then collect every drop for the next 24 hours, including the final void at the end time.
  • Keep the container cool as instructed; do not overfill—ask for a second jug if needed.
  • Record start/stop times, medications, and unusual stress/illness.

Specific Preps (we’ll give you a printed list):

  • Metanephrines/Catecholamines: avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and certain foods (e.g., banana, chocolate, vanilla, citrus) and decongestants/stimulants for a set period if safe to do so. Some antidepressants and BP meds interfere—we’ll advise.
  • 5-HIAA: avoid serotonin-rich foods (e.g., banana, pineapple, kiwi, avocado, eggplant, tomato, walnuts) and certain cough/cold meds for 2–3 days beforehand if safe.
  • UFC (cortisol): flag shift work, major stressors, oral estrogen, and steroid creams/pills—your doctor will time testing appropriately.
Do not stop any prescription medication without clinician guidance. We’ll tailor prep to your situation.

After Your Test: What We Do with Results

  • We interpret results in context (symptoms, exam, imaging).
  • Borderline findings often require repeat testing or a different modality rather than immediate treatment.
  • If positive, we coordinate next steps (confirmatory tests, imaging, or referral to endocrinology/surgery).
  • If negative, we help identify other causes of your symptoms (e.g., sleep apnea, thyroid, anemia, IBS, medication effects).

Safety: When to Use the ER (don’t wait for a clinic)

  • Severe high BP with chest pain, shortness of breath, or neurologic symptoms
  • Sudden, worst-ever headache, fainting, or persistent palpitations with dizziness
  • Profuse diarrhea with dehydration, black/bloody stool, or high fever with confusion

What to Bring

  • Photo ID (passport/ARC)
  • Medication & supplement list (exact doses)
  • Prior labs/imaging and any specialist letters
  • Typical symptom diary (frequency, triggers)

Why VEI Clinic Apgujeong

  • Internal-medicine oversight with endocrine guardrails
  • English-friendly instructions, reminders, and results summaries
  • Same-day consults to set testing strategy; fast lab turnaround
  • Central Gangnam (Apgujeong/Sinsa) location near Apgujeong Station (Exit 5)

Location & Access

  • Address: Beneheim City, 3F, 162 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
  • Subway: Apgujeong Station (Exit 5), short walk

Pricing & Transparency

Pricing depends on the specific assay (UFC, metanephrines, 5-HIAA) and whether confirmatory tests are needed. You’ll receive a clear quote before testing and an itemized English receipt for reimbursement.

Related Pages (add internal links)

  • /services/lab-test-gangnam-seoul
  • /services/testing-gangnam-seoul
  • /services/diabetes-gangnam-seoul
  • /services/high-blood-pressure-gangnam-seoul
  • /services/internal-medicine-gangnam-seoul
  • /services/functional-medicine-gangnam-seoul

FAQs

Do you offer dried-urine “comprehensive hormone” panels?
We don’t use them for diagnosis or medication decisions. If you’ve already done one, we can review it as wellness context and guide clinically validated follow-up testing.

Is blood testing better than urine?
It depends. For sex and thyroid hormones, blood is standard. For cortisol (Cushing’s), UFC or late-night saliva are appropriate screens. For pheochromocytoma, urine or plasma metanephrines are used based on your case.

How accurate are 24-hour tests?
They’re reliable when the collection is complete and prep is followed. We check urine creatinine and repeat or switch modalities if results and symptoms don’t align.

How fast are results?
Typically 2–5 business days (some send-outs longer). You’ll receive a plain-English summary and next steps.

Booking (English-Friendly)

When booking, mention “Urinary Hormone Testing at VEI Clinic Apgujeong (near Apgujeong Station Exit 5)” and share your symptoms, medications, and any prior results.