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Test ID: HGHAR Mercury, Hair

Reporting Name

Mercury, Hair

Useful For

Detecting mercury exposure in hair specimens

Clinical Information

Once absorbed and circulating, mercury becomes bound to numerous proteins, including keratin. The concentration of mercury in hair correlates with the severity of clinical symptoms. If the hair can be segregated by length, such an exercise may be useful in identifying the time of exposure.

Interpretation

Hair grows at a rate of approximately 0.5 inch/month. Hair keratin synthesized today will protrude through the skin in approximately 1 week. Thus, a hair specimen collected at the skin level represents exposure of 1 week ago, 1 inch distally from the skin represents exposure 2 months ago, etc.

 

Normally, hair contains less than 1 mcg/g of mercury; any amount more than this indicates that exposure to more than normal amounts of mercury may have occurred.

Report Available

2 to 14 days

Day(s) Performed

Wednesday

Clinical Reference

1. Marques RC, Dorea JG, Bastos WR, Malm O. Changes in children hair-Hg concentrations during the first 5 years: maternal, environmental and iatrogenic modifying factors. Reg Toxicol Pharmacol 2007;49(1):17-24

2. Canuel R, de Grosbois SB, Atikesse L, et al. New evidence on variations of human body burden of methylmercury from fish consumption. Environ Health Perspect. 2006;114(2):302-306

3. Strathmann FG, Blum LM. Toxic elements. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:chap 44

Method Name

Triple-Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS)

Specimen Type

Hair


Necessary Information


Indicate source of hair (axillary, head, or pubic) if known.



Specimen Required


Supplies: Hair and Nails Collection Kit (T565)

Source: Head, beard, mustache, chest, pubic

Specimen Volume: 0.2 g

Collection Instructions: Prepare and transport specimen per the instructions in the kit or see Collecting Hair and Nails for Metals Testing.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.05 g

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Hair Ambient (preferred)
  Frozen 
  Refrigerated 

Reference Values

0-15 years: Not established

≥16 years: <1.0 mcg/g of hair

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

83825

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
HGHAR Mercury, Hair 5686-1

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
31900 Mercury, Hair 5686-1
HGHSC Specimen Source 31208-2
Mayo Clinic Laboratories | Neurology Catalog Additional Information:

mml-Neuromuscular, mml-Pediatric