85810:MERCURY (Hg), 24 HOUR URINE

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85810:MERCURY (Hg), 24 HOUR URINE
Alias Names: HgU
Methodology: Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS)
Edit Date: 5/18/2009
Performed: Monday-Saturday
Released: 1-4 days after setup at PeaceHealth Laboratories’ reference lab.
CPT Code: 83825-90
Specimen Collection Details
Collection: 24-hour or random urine in a clean, dry plastic container. Refrigerate during collection, storage, and transport.

Diet, medication, and nutritional supplememts may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, nonessential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of the physician), and avoid shellfish and seafood for 48-72 hours.

Handling: Aliquot into two ARUP Trace Element-Free transport tubes, available from Client Services. Record total volume and collection time on test requisition form.
Stability: 7 days ambient, 14 days refrigerated, or 1 year frozen.

Studies indicate that refrigeration alone of urine, during and after collection, preserves specimen adequately if tested within 14 days of collection.

Standard Volume: 10 mL aliquot.
Minimum Volume: 5 mL aliquot.
Transport: Refrigerated.
Rejection Criteria: Urine collected within 48 hours after administration of a gadolinium (Gd) containing contrast media (may occur with MRI studies); acid preserved urine.

Mercury, Urine 0-10 µg/L
Mercury, Urine (24-hour) 0-15 µg/d
Mercury per gram of creatinine No reference interval
Creatinine (24-hour) By reports (reports may vary based on instrumentation)
Urine mercury concentration may correlate better with inorganic mercury exposure than blood concentrations since organic mercury is eliminated primarily in the feces. Urine mercury levels may also be used to monitor chelation therapy.

Urine mercury levels for healthy subjects (reference population) are influenced by diet and environmental background exposure. Urine mercury levels up to 50 µg/L can result from seafood diets, primarily methylmercury, without any clinical evidence of toxicity. For workers in a suspect environment, the Biological Exposure Index (BEI) committee has recommended that inorganic mercury in urine should be <35 µg Hg/g creatinine.

PeaceHealth Laboratories