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Test Code HGUCR Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine


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 clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert

Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect a random urine specimen.

2. See Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.


Useful For

Detecting mercury toxicity, a toxic heavy metal, using random urine specimens

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
HGCU Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, U No Yes
CRETR Creatinine, Random, U No Yes

Method Name

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

CRETR: Enzymatic Colorimetric Assay

Reporting Name

Mercury/Creat Ratio, Random,U

Specimen Type

Urine

Specimen Minimum Volume

1.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  7 days

Reference Values

MERCURY/CREATININE:

0-17 years: Not established

≥18 years: <2 mcg/g creatinine

 

CREATININE:

≥18 years: 16-326 mg/dL

Reference values have not been established for patients who are younger than 18 years of age. 

Interpretation

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

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 Health. 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. Environ Sci and Tech. 2013;47(7):3403-3409

3. McKelvey W, Alex B, Chernov C, et al. Tracking Declines in Mercury Exposure in the New York City Adult Population, 2004-2014. J Urban Health. 2018;95(6):813-825

4. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Atsdr - addendum to the toxicological profile: Mercury. 2022.

5. 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

6. 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 11;6:30

7. Bernhoft RA. Mercury toxicity and treatment: a review of the literature. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:460508. doi:10.1155/2012/460508

8. 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

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

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

82570

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
HGUCR Mercury/Creat Ratio, Random,U 13465-0

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
608903 Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, U 13465-0
CRETR Creatinine, Random, U 2161-8

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

2 to 4 days