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Test Code TLB Thallium, Blood

Reporting Name

Thallium, B

Useful For

Detecting toxic exposure in whole blood specimens

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Whole blood


Specimen Required


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

Supplies: Metal Free B-D Tube (EDTA), 6 mL (T183)

Container/Tube: Royal blue top (EDTA) plastic trace element blood collection tube

Specimen Volume: Full tube

Collection Instructions:

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

2. Send specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.3 mL

Specimen Stability Information

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

Reference Values

0-17 years: Not established

≥18 years: <2 ng/mL

Day(s) Performed

Tuesday, Friday

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

83018

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
TLB Thallium, B 5743-0

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
8149 Thallium, B 5743-0

Interpretation

Normal thallium blood concentrations are less than 1 ng/mL.

 

Significant exposure is associated with thallium concentrations in blood greater than 10 ng/mL and as high as 50 ng/mL. The long-term sequelae from such an exposure is poor.

 

Patients exposed to high doses of thallium (>1 g) present clinically with alopecia (hair loss), peripheral neuropathy, seizures, and kidney failure

Clinical Reference

1. Pelcloval D, Urbanl, P, Ridsonl P, et al. Two-year follow-up of two patients after severe thallium intoxication. Hum Exper Toxicol. 2009;28:263-272

2. Zhao G, Ding M, Zhang B, et al. Clinical manifestations and management of acute thallium poisoning. Eur Neurol. 2008;60:292-297

3. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: Toxicological profile for thallium. US Department of Health and Human Services; July 1992. Available at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp54.pdf

4. Strathmann FG, Blum LM. Toxic elements. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:455.e55

Report Available

2 to 5 days

Method Name

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)