Banner Image

Test Directory

Mercury, Blood

Test Summary

Mercury, a highly toxic metal, is present in select industrial environments and in contaminated ocean fish.

Aliases

  • Blood Mercury

Specimen Collection

Special Instructions

N/A

Preferred Specimen

4 mL whole blood collected in an EDTA (royal blue-top) tube

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Instructions

Carefully clean skin prior to venipuncture. Avoid worksite collection.

Note: Tests performed on a specimen submitted in a non-trace element tube/container (non-acid washed) may not accurately reflect the patient's level. If a non-trace element tube/container is received, it will be accepted for testing. However, elevated results shall be reported with a message that re-submission with a trace element tube/container is recommended.

Patient Preparation

N/A

Storage

N/A

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

  • Room temperature: 5 days
  • Refrigerated: 7 days
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Limitations

N/A

Other Acceptable Specimens

Whole blood collected in a sodium heparin (royal blue-top) tube

Unacceptable Specimens

Clotted specimens

Order Code

MERCRY

EPIC (Premier) Code

LAB296

Includes

N/A

CPT Code

  • 83825

Billing Code

  • 670165

CPT Statement

Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

FDA Status

This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has determined that such clearance or approval is not necessary. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Physician Attestation of Informed Consent

N/A

Testing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly VA, 20153

Department

Reference Testing

Reference Range

≤10 mcg/L

Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time

Monday - Saturday; Report available: 1 day

Specimen Collection

Special Instructions

N/A

Preferred Specimen

4 mL whole blood collected in an EDTA (royal blue-top) tube

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Instructions

Carefully clean skin prior to venipuncture. Avoid worksite collection.

Note: Tests performed on a specimen submitted in a non-trace element tube/container (non-acid washed) may not accurately reflect the patient's level. If a non-trace element tube/container is received, it will be accepted for testing. However, elevated results shall be reported with a message that re-submission with a trace element tube/container is recommended.

Patient Preparation

N/A

Storage

N/A

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

  • Room temperature: 5 days
  • Refrigerated: 7 days
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Limitations

N/A

Other Acceptable Specimens

Whole blood collected in a sodium heparin (royal blue-top) tube

Unacceptable Specimens

Clotted specimens

Billing

CPT Code

  • 83825

Billing Code

  • 670165

CPT Statement

Result Information

Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Testing Laboratory

N/A

Reference Range

≤10 mcg/L

Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time

Monday - Saturday; Report available: 1 day