Mercury, Urine
Also known as: MERCURY U
Use
Mercury, Urine test may be useful in the assessment of acute or chronic elemental or inorganic mercury exposure and/or in monitoring chelation therapy. Urinary mercury concentrations predominantly reflect these types of exposures. Urine concentrations in unexposed individuals are typically less than 10 µg/L. 24-hour urine concentrations of 30 to 100 µg/L may be associated with subclinical neuropsychiatric symptoms and tremors, while concentrations greater than 100 µg/L can be associated with overt neuropsychiatric disturbances and tremors. Urine mercury levels may also be valuable in monitoring chelation therapy.
Special Instructions
Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances; therefore, patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and nonessential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician), and avoid shellfish and seafood for 48 to 72 hours prior to the test. Collection of urine specimens from patients receiving iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media should be avoided for a minimum of 72 hours post exposure. Additionally, collection from patients with impaired kidney function should be avoided for a minimum of 14 days post contrast media exposure.
Limitations
Elevated results may be due to skin or collection-related contamination, including the use of collection containers that are not certified to be trace element-free. If an elevated result is suspected to be due to contamination, it is recommended to confirm with a second specimen collected in a certified trace element-free container. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and is developed as a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) for use in a CLIA certified laboratory for clinical purposes.
New York Approved
Methodology
Mass Spectrometry
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 35674-1
- 2162-6
- 6693-6
- 30921-1
- 13465-0
- 19153-6
- 30211-7
Result Turnaround Time
1-5 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Urine
Volume
8 mL
Minimum Volume
1 mL
Container
Plastic container, ARUP Trace Element-Free Transport Tubes
Collection Instructions
Collect a 24-hour or random urine sample. Transfer an 8 mL aliquot from a well-mixed collection to ARUP Trace Element-Free Transport Tubes.
Patient Preparation
Patients should discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and nonessential over-the-counter medications upon the advice of their physician, and avoid shellfish and seafood for 48 to 72 hours before the test.
Storage Instructions
Store and transport the specimen refrigerated. It is also acceptable to store at room temperature or frozen.
Causes for Rejection
Urine collected within 72 hours after administration of iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media. Acid-preserved urine. Specimens contaminated with blood or fecal material. Specimens transported in non-trace element-free transport tube (except the original device).
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 1 week |
| Refrigerated | 2 weeks |
| Frozen | 1 year |