Mercury, Urine 24 Hour




Test Mnemonic

UMERC3

CPT Codes

  • 83825 - QTY (1)

Aliases

  • Hg, Urine 24 Hour

Includes

  • Hours Collected
  • Total Volume
  • Mercury, Urine per volume
  • Mercury, Urine per 24 hour
  • Mercury, Urine ratio to creatinine
  • Creatinine, Urine per volume
  • Creatinine, Urine per 24 hour

Performing Laboratory

ARUP

FDA Category

Laboratory Developed Test


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
8 mLUrine, 24-hour (well-mixed)Plastic containerRefrigerate during collection.RefrigeratedHEAVY METALS FORM REQUIRED to meet State Health Department requirements. Patient Prep: High concentrations of iodine may interfere with testing. Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician) and avoid seafood for 48 hours. Avoid iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media for at least 72 hours or 14 days for patients with impaired kidney function. Collection: Collect in a plastic container, mix well and aliquot into a trace metal free transport tube (ARUP #43116). Record total volume and collection time interval on specimen.

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
8 mLUrine, randomPlastic container RefrigeratedHEAVY METALS FORM REQUIRED to meet State Health Department requirements. Patient Prep: High concentrations of iodine may interfere with testing. Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician) and avoid seafood for 48 hours. Avoid iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media for at least 72 hours or 14 days for patients with impaired kidney function. Collection: Collect in a plastic container, mix well and aliquot into a trace metal free transport tube (ARUP #43116). Record total volume and collection time interval on specimen.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Refrigerated2 weeks
Ambient1 week
Frozen1 year

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

2 - 6 days

Methodology

Name Description
Inductively Coupled Plasma / Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) 

Reference Range

Mercury, Urine per 24 hours
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       Normal0.0 - 20.0ug/d
Mercury, Urine per volume
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       Normal0.0 - 5.0ug/L
Mercury, Urine ratio to creatinine
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
   Years99 YearsNormal0.0 - 20.0ug/g crt

Special Info

HEAVY METALS FORM REQUIRED to meet State Health Department requirements. Patient Prep: High concentrations of iodine may interfere with testing. Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician) and avoid seafood for 48 hours. Avoid iodinated or gadolinium-based contrast media for at least 72 hours or 14 days for patients with impaired kidney function. Collection: Collect in a plastic container, mix well and aliquot into a trace metal free transport tube (ARUP #43116). Record total volume and collection time interval on specimen. Urine transported in a non-trace element-free tube or contaminated with iodine, gadolinium, blood, fecal material or acid preservative will be rejected. This test is New York DOH approved.

Clinical Info

This test may be useful in the assessment of acute or chronic elemental or inorganic mercury exposure and/or in monitoring chelation therapy. Urinary mercury levels predominantly reflect acute or chronic elemental or inorganic mercury exposure. 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 tremor while concentrations greater than 100 µg/L can be associated with overt neuropsychiatric disturbances and tremors. Urine mercury levels may be useful in monitoring chelation therapy.

Patient Info Sheet