Detecting mercury toxicity due to occupational exposure
Test Id | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
---|---|---|---|
HGOU | Mercury Occupational Exposure | No | Yes |
CRETR | Creatinine, Random, U | No | Yes |
HGOU: Triple Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS)
CRETR: Enzymatic Colorimetric Assay
Hg (Mercury)
Mercury (Hg)
Urine
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: 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 Trace Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.
1.5 mL
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
Frozen | 7 days |
Detecting mercury toxicity due to occupational exposure
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.
Biological Exposure Index (BEI): <35 mcg/g creatinine prior to shift
Daily urine excretion of mercury greater than 50 mcg/day indicates significant exposure (per World Health Organization standard).
To avoid contamination by dust, specimen should be collected away from the site of suspected exposure.
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 Apr;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 Technol. 2013 Apr 2;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 Jun;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 Oct 11;6:30
5. 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
The metal of interest is analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.(Unpublished Mayo method)
Creatinine:
The enzymatic method is based on the determination of sarcosine from creatinine with the aid of creatininase, creatinase, and sarcosine oxidase. The liberated hydrogen peroxide is measured via a modified Trinder reaction using a colorimetric indicator. Optimization of the buffer system and the colorimetric indicator enables the creatinine concentration to be quantified both precisely and specifically.(Package insert: Creatinine plus ver 2. Roche Diagnostics; V15.0, 03/2019)
Monday through Friday
This test was developed, and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
83825
82570
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
HGUOE | Mercury Occupat Exp, Random, U | 13465-0 |
Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
---|---|---|
CRETR | Creatinine, Random, U | 2161-8 |
608893 | Mercury Occupational Exposure | 13465-0 |