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HelpTest Code MER-U Mercury, 24 Hour, Urine
Additional Codes
| Mayo Test ID |
|---|
| HGU |
Reporting Name
Mercury, 24 Hr, UUseful For
Detecting mercury toxicity in 24-hour urine specimens
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Specimen Type
UrineNecessary Information
24-Hour volume (in milliliters) is required.
Specimen Required
Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to potentially interfere with most inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-based metal tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.
Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)
Collection Container/Tube: Clean, plastic urine container with no metal cap or glued insert
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic, 10-mL urine tube or a clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect urine for 24 hours.
2. Refrigerate specimen within 4 hours of completion of 24-hour collection.
3. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.
Additional Information: See Urine Preservatives-Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens for multiple collections.
Specimen Minimum Volume
1.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
| Frozen | 7 days |
Special Instructions
Reference Values
0-17 years: Not established
≥18 years: <2 mcg/24 h
Toxic concentration: >50 mcg/24 h
The concentration at which toxicity is expressed is widely variable between patients. 50 mcg/24 h is the lowest concentration at which toxicity is usually apparent.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
83825
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| HGU | Mercury, 24 Hr, U | 6693-6 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8592 | Mercury, 24 Hr, U | 6693-6 |
| TM5 | Collection Duration | 13362-9 |
| VL3 | Urine Volume | 3167-4 |
Clinical Information
The correlation between the levels of mercury (Hg) excretion in the urine and the clinical symptoms is considered poor.
Previous thought indicated urine as a more appropriate marker of inorganic mercury because organic mercury represented only a small fraction of urinary mercury. Based on possible demethylation of methylmercury within the body, urine may represent a mixture of dietary methylmercury and inorganic mercury. Seafood consumption can contribute to urinary mercury levels (up to 30%),(1) which is consistent with the suggestion that due to demethylation processes in the human body, a certain proportion of urinary mercury can originate from dietary consumption of fish/seafood.(2)
For more information see HG / Mercury, Blood.
Interpretation
Daily urine excretion of mercury above 50 mcg/day indicates significant exposure (per World Health Organization standard).
Cautions
To avoid contamination by dust, specimen should be collected away from the site of suspected exposure.
Report Available
1 to 3 daysReject Due To
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.Method Name
Triple-Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS)