Mercury, Whole Blood
Also known as: HG B
Use
Blood mercury levels predominantly reflect recent exposure and are most useful in the diagnosis of acute poisoning as blood mercury concentrations rise sharply and fall quickly over several days after ingestion. Blood concentrations in unexposed individuals rarely exceed 20 ug/L. The provided reference interval relates to inorganic mercury concentrations. Dietary and nonoccupational exposure to organic mercury forms may contribute to an elevated total mercury result. Clinical presentation after toxic exposure to organic mercury may include dysarthria, ataxia, and constricted vision fields with mercury blood concentrations from 20 to 50 ug/L.
Special Instructions
Submit the Public Health Demographics Form only if complete demographic info is not transmitted to ARUP. Patient should avoid shellfish and seafood for 48 to 72 hours, and discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over-the-counter medications upon physician advice.
Limitations
Elevated results may be due to skin or collection-related contamination, including the use of tubes that are not certified to be trace element free. If an elevated result is suspected to be due to contamination, confirmation with a second specimen collected in a certified trace element-free tube is recommended. Mercury is volatile; concentration may decrease over time.
New York Approved
Methodology
Mass Spectrometry
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 5685-3
Result Turnaround Time
1-3 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Whole Blood
Volume
3 or 6 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
Royal blue (K2EDTA) or royal blue (NaHep)
Patient Preparation
Patient should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over-the-counter medications upon the advice of their physician, and avoid shellfish and seafood for 48 to 72 hours.
Causes for Rejection
Specimens collected in tubes other than royal blue (K2EDTA) or royal blue (NaHep). Specimens transported in containers other than royal blue (K2EDTA) or royal blue (NaHep) tube or trace element-free transport tube. Clotted specimens.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 1 week |
| Refrigerated | 1 week |
| Frozen | Unacceptable |