No specific patient preparation is required

Urine is the only acceptable matrix for this test.  A volume of >4 mL is preferred, the sample volume must be >1mL. Samples should be frozen and sent to the lab without delay.

Mid-stream clean catch, catheter, or an aliquot of a 24-hour urine collection are acceptable.  Sterile collection procedures are preferred, but not required.

Label specimen container with patient name and date of birth.  Laboratory regulations require the following minimum information to be provided on the requisition form for a specimen to be accepted for testing: Patient name or unique identifier; date and time of collection, patient date of birth and sex, specimen type/site of collection (clean catch, catheter, etc.), test request(s), clinician name and NPI, and address for reporting results. Please be certain that name/identifier on the form matches that on the specimen label. which is required to have a minimum of two identifiers.

Rejection criteria include insufficient volume (<1 mL), suspected contamination due to improper collection procedures/container, improper matrix, or a leaking sample container.

Specimens should be stored frozen prior to transport. Same day or next day drop off of specimens is preferred. Specimens being shipped should be supplied with cold packs or enough dry ice to maintain the frozen state during transport and until arrival at the laboratory.

Monday-Friday 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM, Saturday 7:45 AM - 12:00 PM

NHANES Reference Range: <1.05 mcg/L (2017-2018 survey year)

This test is for assessing elemental mercury exposure, a blood mercury test is needed to assess organic mercury exposure.

Preservation on receipt, along with freezing of urine, is completed to prevent the potential loss of mercury from the urine. This process is more important for the measurement of biomonitoring concentrations (which are usually lower) and is not as critical for occupational or other higher-level exposure situations.

Mercury is measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). 

Quantification of mercury in urine for toxicological and biomonitoring purposes.  The method is used to screen urine specimens from subjects suspected to be exposed to mercury, or to evaluate the subject's environmental or other non-occupational exposures to this toxic element.  This test has a reportable range of 0.5 to 300 mcg/L.

NA

1-800-862-1065 arbill@slh.wisc.edu