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HelpTest ID: HGU Mercury, 24 Hour, Urine
Reporting Name
Mercury, 24 Hr, UUseful For
Detecting mercury toxicity in 24-hour urine specimens
Clinical Information
The correlation between the levels of mercury (Hg) excretion in the urine and the clinical symptoms is considered poor.
Previous thought indicated urine as a more appropriate marker of inorganic mercury because organic mercury represented only a small fraction of urinary mercury. Based on possible demethylation of methylmercury within the body, urine may represent a mixture of dietary methylmercury and inorganic mercury. Seafood consumption can contribute to urinary mercury levels (up to 30%),(1) which is consistent with the suggestion that due to demethylation processes in the human body, a certain proportion of urinary mercury can originate from dietary consumption of fish/seafood.(2)
For more information see HG / Mercury, Blood.
Interpretation
Daily urine excretion of mercury above 50 mcg/day indicates significant exposure (per World Health Organization standard).
Report Available
1 to 3 daysDay(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Clinical Reference
1. Snoj Tratniid J, Falnoga I, Mazej D, et al. Results of the first national human biomonitoring in Slovenia: Trace elements in men and lactating women, predictors of exposure and reference values. Int J Hyg Environ Heatlh. 2019;222(3):563-582
2. Sherman LS, Blum JD, Franzblau A, Basu N. New insights into biomarkers of human mercury exposure using naturally occurring mercury stable isotopes. Envrn Sci Technol. 2013;47(7):3403-3409
3. Lee R, Middleton D, Caldwell K, et al. A review of events that expose children to elemental mercury in the United States. Environ Health Perspect. 2009;117(6):871-878
4. Bjorkman L, Lundekvam BF, Laegreid T, et al. Mercury in human brain, blood, muscle and toenails in relation to exposure: an autopsy study. Environ Health. 2007;6:30
5. Bernhoft RA. Mercury toxicity and treatment: a review of the literature. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:460508. doi:10.1155/2012/460508
6. Strathmann FG, Blum LM: Toxic elements. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CD, 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
UrineNecessary Information
24-Hour volume (in milliliters) is required.
Specimen Required
Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to potentially interfere with most inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-based metal tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.
Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)
Collection Container/Tube: Clean, plastic urine container with no metal cap or glued insert
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic, 10-mL urine tube or a clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect urine for 24 hours.
2. Refrigerate specimen within 4 hours of completion of 24-hour collection.
3. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.
Additional Information: See Urine Preservatives-Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens for multiple collections.
Specimen Minimum Volume
1.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
| Frozen | 7 days |
Special Instructions
Reference Values
0-17 years: Not established
≥18 years: <2 mcg/24 h
Toxic concentration: >50 mcg/24 h
The concentration at which toxicity is expressed is widely variable between patients. 50 mcg/24 h is the lowest concentration at which toxicity is usually apparent.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| HGU | Mercury, 24 Hr, U | 6693-6 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8592 | Mercury, 24 Hr, U | 6693-6 |
| TM5 | Collection Duration | 13362-9 |
| VL3 | Urine Volume | 3167-4 |
mml-Neuromuscular, mml-Pediatric