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Test Code NIUC Nickel/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine


Specimen Required


Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see NIUCR / Nickel/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine.

 

Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to interfere with most metal tests. If gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, a specimen should not be collected for 96 hours.

Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)

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

Measurement of nickel concentration for biomonitoring nickel exposure

Method Name

Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see NIUCR / Nickel/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine.

 

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Reporting Name

Nickel/Creat Ratio, U

Specimen Type

Urine

Specimen Minimum Volume

1.2 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Ambient  28 days
  Frozen  28 days

Reference Values

Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see NIUCR / Nickel/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine.

 

0-17 years: Not established

Males ≥18 years: <3.8 mcg/g creatinine

Females ≥18 years: <4.3 mcg/g creatinine

Interpretation

Values of 3.8 mcg/g creatinine and higher for male patients, or 4.3 mcg/g creatinine and higher for female patients, represent possible environmental or occupational exposure to nickel (Ni).

 

Ni concentrations above 50 mcg/g creatinine are of concern, suggesting excessive exposure.

 

Hypernickelemia, in the absence of exposure, may be an incidental finding or could be due to specimen contamination.

Clinical Reference

1. Moreno ME, Acosta-Saavedra LC, Mez-Figueroa D, et al. Biomonitoring of metal in children living in a mine tailings zone in Southern Mexico: A pilot study. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2010;213(4):252-258. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2010.03.005

2. Schulz C, Angerer J, Ewers U, Heudorf U, Wilhelm M, Human Biomonitoring Commission of the German Federal Environment Agency. Revised and new reference values for environmental pollutants in urine or blood of children in Germany derived from the German Environmental Survey on Children 2003-2006 (GerES IV). Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2009;212(6):637-647. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2009.05.003

3. US Department of Health and Human Services: Toxicological profile for nickel. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. HHS; 2005. Accessed September 6, 2023. Available at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp15.pdf

4. Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds: Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023

5. Zambelli B, Ciurli S: Nickel and human health. In: Sigel A, Sigel H, Sigel R, eds. Interrelations between Essential Metal Ions and Human Diseases. Metal Ions in Life Sciences. Vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht; 2013:321-357

6. Begum W, Rai S, Banerjee S, et al. A comprehensive review on the sources, essentiality and toxicological profile of nickel. RSC Adv. 2022;12(15):9139-9153.

Day(s) Performed

Thursday

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.

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
NIUC Nickel/Creat Ratio, U 13472-6

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
614553 Nickel/Creat Ratio, U 13472-6