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Mercury, 24-Hour Urine

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6098, Beaker: XHGU, Mayo: HGU

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• A Urine Creatinine test is performed on each sample.
• Please refer to the Specimen Collection Manual for instructions on 24-Hour Urine Collection:
  • Urine 24-Hour Collection - Inpatient
  • Urine 24-Hour Collection - Outpatient
  • Urine 24-Hour Collection - Outreach
• High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most metals tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): 24-hour urine sample with no preservative.
Keep 24-hour urine specimen iced or refrigerated during collection.

• Include start and end dates and times for the collection period on the specimen container.

 

Urine Preservative Options
No Preservative	6N Hydrochloric Acid	Boric Acid (10g)	Sodium Carbonate	50% Acetic Acid
Acceptable	Acceptable	NO	NO	Acceptable

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimens refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Entire 24-hour urine collection, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Measure total volume of the 24-hour urine specimen. Record total volume and collection start and end dates and times in the LIS system. Aliquot 10 mL from the well-mixed 24-hour urine collection into a metal-free transport tube. (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Rochester, MN.

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available in 2-5 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Interpretation

Urine mercury levels for healthy subjects (reference population) are influenced by diet and environmental background exposure. Urine mercury levels up to 50 mcg/L can result from seafood diets, primarily methylmercury, without any clinical evidence of toxicity.

Clinical Utility

Detecting mercury toxicity in 24-hour urine specimens.

CPT Codes

83825

Contacts

Last Updated

10/9/2023