Sign in →

Test Code ASHA Arsenic, Hair

Reporting Name

Arsenic, Hair

Useful For

Detection of nonacute arsenic exposure in hair specimens

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Hair


Necessary Information


Indicate source of hair (axillary, head, or pubic) if known



Specimen Required


Supplies: Hair and Nails Collection Kit (T565)

Source: Head, beard, mustache, chest, pubic

Specimen Volume: 0.2 g

Collection Instructions: Prepare and transport specimen per the instructions in the kit or see Collecting Hair and Nails for Metals Testing.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.05 g

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Hair Ambient (preferred)
  Frozen 
  Refrigerated 

Reference Values

0-15 years: Not established

≥16 years: <1.0 mcg/g of hair

Day(s) Performed

Wednesday

CPT Code Information

82175

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
ASHA Arsenic, Hair 5584-8

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
31896 Arsenic, Hair 5584-8
ASHSC Specimen Source 31208-2

Interpretation

Hair grows at a rate of approximately 0.5 inch/month. Hair keratin synthesized today will protrude through the skin in approximately 1 week. Thus, a hair specimen collected at the skin level represents exposure of 1 week ago, 1 inch distally from the skin represents exposure 2 months ago, etc.

 

Hair arsenic levels above 1.00 mcg/g dry weight may indicate excessive exposure. It is normal for some arsenic to be present in hair, as everybody is exposed to trace amounts of arsenic from the normal diet.

 

The highest hair arsenic observed at Mayo Clinic was 210 mcg/g dry weight in a case of chronic exposure, which was the cause of death.

Report Available

2 to 14 days

Reject Due To

  All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Method Name

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