Sign in →

Test Code HG Mercury, Blood

Additional Codes

CNE Order Code: Mercury

Reporting Name

Mercury, B

Useful For

Detecting mercury toxicity

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Whole blood


Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine are known to potentially interfere with most inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-based 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 whole blood 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

<10 ng/mL

Reference values apply to all ages.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

CPT Code Information

83825

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
HG Mercury, B 5685-3

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
8618 Mercury, B 5685-3

Interpretation

The quantity of mercury (Hg) found in blood and urine correlates with degree of toxicity. Hair analysis can be used to document the time of peak exposure if the event was in the past.

 

Normal whole blood mercury is usually below 10 ng/mL.

 

Individuals who have mild exposure during work, such as dentists, may routinely have whole blood mercury levels up to 15 ng/mL.

 

Significant exposure is indicated when the whole blood mercury is above 50 ng/mL if exposure is due to alkyl Hg, or above 200 ng/mL if exposure is due to Hg(2+).

Report Available

1 to 2 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Method Name

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