Cobalt, Blood
Test Mnemonic
COBALB
CPT Codes
- 83018 - QTY (1)
Performing Laboratory
ARUP
FDA Category
Laboratory Developed Test
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mL | Whole blood | EDTA (Royal blue) | Ambient | Diet, medication and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over the counter medications (upon the advice of their physician). Transport specimen in original collection tube. |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient | Indefinitely |
| Refrigerated | Indefinitely |
| Frozen | Unacceptable |
Days Performed
Sun - Sat
Turnaround Time
2 - 6 days
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Inductively Coupled Plasma / Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |
Reference Range
| Cobalt Blood Test | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Age From | Age To | Type | Range | Range Unit |
| Years | 99 Years | Normal | 0.5-3.9 | ug/L |
Special Info
Specimens collected and/or transported in containers other than specified will be rejected. Clotted specimens are unacceptable.
Clinical Info
Blood cobalt levels can be used in the assessment of occupational exposure or toxic ingestion. Symptoms associated with cobalt toxicity vary based on route of exposure and may include cardiomyopathy, allergic dermatitis, pulmonary fibrosis, cough, and dyspnea. Blood is the preferred specimen type for evaluating metal ion release from metal-on-metal joint arthropasty. Elevated results may be due to skin or collection-related contamination, including the use of a noncertified metal-free collection/transport tube. If contamination concerns exist due to elevated levels of blood cobalt, confirmation with a second specimen collected in a certified metal-free tube is recommended.