: Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Urine, Quantitative

: What Is Being Measured

: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid that acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, helping to calm nerve signaling. It is also produced and processed elsewhere in the body, so small amounts can appear in urine. This test measures how much GABA is present in a urine specimen.

: How the Sample Is Collected

: A urine sample is collected using standard clean-catch technique or another method specified by your clinician, such as a timed collection. Because levels can vary, your care team will tell you whether any special preparation or timing is needed before the sample is given.

: How the Test Is Performed

: The urine is analyzed in a laboratory using a quantitative chemical method to determine the concentration of GABA. Depending on the laboratory, results may be reported as a concentration or adjusted for collection volume or creatinine; ask your provider how your result is expressed.

: What the Results Mean

: A result outside the laboratory's expected range does not, by itself, diagnose a condition. Urine GABA can be influenced by diet, medications, kidney function, sample timing, and collection method. Your clinician will interpret the number together with your symptoms, history, and other tests.