Thallium, Whole Blood
Also known as: THALB
Use
Thallium, Whole Blood test is useful as a biomarker of acute thallium exposure and for assessing recent exposure levels since thallium has a biological half-life of approximately 2 to 4 days. Blood levels greater than 100 ug/L are considered toxic, and levels greater than 300 ug/L indicate severe ingestion. Symptoms of severe thallium poisoning include gastroenteritis, multiorgan failure, neurologic injury, peripheral neuropathy, and alopecia from acute and chronic exposure.
Special Instructions
Patients should discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and nonessential over-the-counter medications upon physician advice to avoid interfering substances. Specimens must be collected in a royal blue (K2EDTA) or royal blue (NaHep) tube to prevent contamination. Elevated results due to contamination should be confirmed with a second specimen collected in a certified metal-free tube.
Limitations
Results may be falsely elevated due to skin or collection-related contamination, including noncertified tube use. Human health effects from low-level thallium exposure are unknown. The test performance characteristics were determined by ARUP Laboratories as a Laboratory Developed Test, not cleared by the FDA.
New York Approved
Methodology
Mass Spectrometry
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 5743-0
Result Turnaround Time
1-3 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Whole Blood
Volume
6 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
royal blue (K2EDTA) or royal blue (NaHep) tube
Patient Preparation
Discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and nonessential over-the-counter medications after consulting physician.
Causes for Rejection
Specimens collected in tubes other than royal blue (K2EDTA) or royal blue (NaHep); non-metal-free containers; clotted specimens.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | Indefinitely |
| Refrigerated | Indefinitely |
| Frozen | Unacceptable |