Starting January 1, 2023, ARUP will only accept certified metals-free collection tubes for trace elements testing. If specimens are sent in non-certified metals-free collection tubes, orders will be canceled and will require a patient redraw.
Collect
Blood, Royal Blue (EDTA) - Lavender band
Aliquot Containers - Lab/Outreach Use Only
Preferred Draw Volume
6 mL
Minimum Draw Volume
2 mL
Unacceptable Conditions
Specimens collected in tubes other than Royal Blue (EDTA). Specimens transported in containers other than Royal Blue (EDTA) tube or Trace Element-Free Transport Tube. Heparin anticoagulant. Clotted specimens.
Patient Preparation
Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patient should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician), and avoid shellfish and seafood for 48 to 72 hours.
Collection Comments
Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Invert tube 8-10 times to mix blood with anticoagulant. Do not Spin tube. Transport 7 mL whole blood in Royal Blue EDTA tube, (minimum 0.5mL) at room temperature. Materials comprising the tube and the tube top are a consideration. Rubber stoppers in collection tubes other than the royal blue tube are known to contain elements that can contaminate a specimen. Contamination can be introduced as the needle punctures the stopper in a tube other than royal blue. Most of this also holds true for transport tubes. Do Not Aliquot. See ARUP website for details.
Mercury is volatile; concentration may decrease over time.
Performing Lab
Send Outs
Referral Lab
ARUP Laboratories
Synonyms
10452
LVL Mercury
MercBl
Mercury Bld
ARUP 0099305
Reference Interval
By Report
Interpretive Data
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 mercury, confirmation with a second specimen collected in a certified metal-free tube is recommended.
Blood mercury levels predominantly reflect recent exposure and are most useful in the diagnosis of acute poisoning as blood mercury concentrations rise sharply and fall quickly over several days after ingestion. Blood concentrations in unexposed individuals rarely exceed 20 µg/L. The provided reference interval relates to inorganic mercury concentrations. Dietary and non-occupational exposure to organic mercury forms may contribute to an elevated total mercury result. Clinical presentation after toxic exposure to organic mercury may include dysarthria, ataxia and constricted vision fields with mercury blood concentrations from 20 to 50 µg/L.
Starting January 1, 2023, ARUP will only accept certified metals-free collection tubes for trace elements testing. If specimens are sent in non-certified metals-free collection tubes, orders will be canceled and will require a patient redraw.
Collect
Blood, Royal Blue (EDTA) - Lavender band
Aliquot Containers - Lab/Outreach Use Only
Preferred Draw Volume
6 mL
Minimum Draw Volume
2 mL
Unacceptable Conditions
Specimens collected in tubes other than Royal Blue (EDTA). Specimens transported in containers other than Royal Blue (EDTA) tube or Trace Element-Free Transport Tube. Heparin anticoagulant. Clotted specimens.
Patient Preparation
Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patient should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, and non-essential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician), and avoid shellfish and seafood for 48 to 72 hours.
Collection Comments
Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Invert tube 8-10 times to mix blood with anticoagulant. Do not Spin tube. Transport 7 mL whole blood in Royal Blue EDTA tube, (minimum 0.5mL) at room temperature. Materials comprising the tube and the tube top are a consideration. Rubber stoppers in collection tubes other than the royal blue tube are known to contain elements that can contaminate a specimen. Contamination can be introduced as the needle punctures the stopper in a tube other than royal blue. Most of this also holds true for transport tubes. Do Not Aliquot. See ARUP website for details.
Mercury is volatile; concentration may decrease over time.
Performing Lab
Send Outs
Referral Lab
ARUP Laboratories
Synonyms
10452
LVL Mercury
MercBl
Mercury Bld
ARUP 0099305
Result Interpretation
Reference Interval
By Report
Interpretive Data
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 mercury, confirmation with a second specimen collected in a certified metal-free tube is recommended.
Blood mercury levels predominantly reflect recent exposure and are most useful in the diagnosis of acute poisoning as blood mercury concentrations rise sharply and fall quickly over several days after ingestion. Blood concentrations in unexposed individuals rarely exceed 20 µg/L. The provided reference interval relates to inorganic mercury concentrations. Dietary and non-occupational exposure to organic mercury forms may contribute to an elevated total mercury result. Clinical presentation after toxic exposure to organic mercury may include dysarthria, ataxia and constricted vision fields with mercury blood concentrations from 20 to 50 µg/L.
