Mercury serum test

MERCURY SERUM TEST

DESCRIPTION – the mercury blood test is used to detect an excess of mercury. It is ordered to determine if there has been an acute or chronic exposure to high levels of mercury. Specifically, the mercury blood test detects the level of methyl mercury in the blood

METHODOLOGY – quantitative inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

TURN AROUND TIME – 1-3 days

SPECIMEN REQUIERED –

PATIENT PREPARATION – diet, medication and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patient should be encouraged to discontinue these

COLLECT – royal blue (sodium EDTA)

SPECIMEN PREPARATION – transport 7 ml of whole blood in original collection tube

STORAGE/TRANSPORT TEMPERATURE – room temperature or refrigerated

STABILITY – ambient: 1 week; refrigerated: 1 week

UNACCEPTABLE CONDITION – alternate tubes, heparin anticoagulant, and clotted specimens

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS – clinical history is mandatory