Detecting mercury toxicity using random urine specimens
Only orderable as part of profile. For more information see:
-HGUCR / Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine
-HMUCR / Heavy Metal/Creatinine Ratio, with Reflex, Random Urine.
Triple Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS)
Hg (Mercury)
Mercury (Hg)
Urine
Only orderable as part of profile. For more information see:
-HGUCR / Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine
-HMUCR / Heavy Metal/Creatinine Ratio, with Reflex, Random Urine.
1.5 mL
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
Frozen | 7 days |
Detecting mercury toxicity using random urine specimens
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.
Only orderable as part of profile. For more information see:
-HGUCR / Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine
-HMUCR / Heavy Metal/Creatinine Ratio, with Reflex, Random Urine.
0-17 years: Not established
> or =18 years: <2 mcg/g creatinine
Daily urine excretion of mercury above 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 Health. 2019 Apr;222(3):563-582. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.02.008
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;47(7):3403-3409. doi: 10.1021/es305250z
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. doi: 10.1289/ehp.0800337
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. doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-6-30
5. Bernhoft RA. Mercury toxicity and treatment: a review of the literature. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:460508. doi: 10.1155/2012/460508
6. 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
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.
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
HGCU | Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, 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.
|
---|---|---|
608903 | Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, U | 13465-0 |