Mercury, Urine (Sendout)

General Information

Lab Name

Mercury, URN

Lab Code

RUHG

Epic Name

Mercury, Urine

External Test Id

HGU, HGUCR

Description

Useful For: Detecting mercury toxicity in 24-hour urine specimens.

Patient Preparation: 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.

Synonyms

Hg, HGU, HGUCR, T173

Components

Code	Name
HGINT	Mercury Interval, URN
HGTV	Mercury Total Volume, URN
RHGT	Mercury,24h, URN

Interpretation

Method

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Reference Range

See individual components

Ref. Range Notes

Reference Values:

0-17 years:	Not established
> or =18 years:	<2 mcg/24 h
Toxic concentration:	>50 mcg/24 h

Interpretation: Daily urine excretion of mercury above 50 mcg/day indicates significant exposure (per World Health Organization standard).

Interferences and Limitations

Cautions: To avoid contamination by dust, specimen should be collected away from the site of suspected exposure.

Ordering & Collection

Specimen Type

Urine

Collection

24 Hour Urine Collection (Preferred):

Collect urine for 24 hours in a preservative-free amber polyethylene 24-hr urine collection container (with no metal caps or glued inserts).
Refer to Mayo Urine Preservatives-Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens for additional information on acceptable collection conditions.
Refrigerate specimen within 4 hours of completion of 24-hour collection.

Random Urine: Collect random urine in a preservative-free plastic container with no metal cap or glued inserts.

Handling Instructions

Outside Laboratories:

Mix specimen well. Measure and record total volume. Note the collection interval and total volume on the requisition.
Aliquot urine into a Mayo metal-free screw-capped vial (T173) and refrigerate.
- Note: Mayo T173 is recommended, but not required. Mayo will also accept urine in a clean plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert.

Stability: Refrigerated (preferred): 7 days; Frozen: 7 days; Ambient: Unacceptable.

Quantity

Requested: 10 mL urine
Minimum: 2 mL urine (24-Hour); 3 mL urine (Random)

Processing

Receiving Instructions

SPS: Specimen must be refrigerated within 4 hours of completion of 24-hour collection.

Mix urine.
Measure and record total volume.
Aliquot urine into a Mayo metal-free screw-capped vial (T173) and refrigerate.
- Note: Mayo T173 is recommended, but not required. Mayo will also accept urine in a clean plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert.

Sendouts:

Order Mayo Test: HGU
Interfaced: Yes [Interface: 601; Worksheet: MARF]
Random Collection: Order Mayo Test: HGUCR (Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Rand Urine).
- Batch RUHG on the interface. Add test HGUCR and delete test HGU in MayoAccess prior to closing the batch.

Stability: Refrigerated (preferred): 7 days; Frozen: 7 days; Ambient: Unacceptable.

Misc Sendout

Performance

Lab Department

Sendouts Mayo Lab (RF)(MARF)

Frequency

Performed: Monday through Friday. Report Available: 1-3 days from sample receipt at Mayo Clinic Labs.

Available STAT?

Performing Location(s)

Sendout	Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Superior Drive) 800-533-1710 3050 Superior Drive NW Rochester, MN 55901

Billing & Coding

CPT Codes: 83825
LOINC: 5689-5
Interfaced Order Code: UOW2032