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Test ID HGHAR Mercury, Hair


Specimen Required


Supplies: Hair and Nails Collection Kit (T565)

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.

Additional Information: If known, indicate source of hair (axillary, head, or pubic).


Useful For

Detecting mercury exposure in hair specimens

Method Name

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Reporting Name

Mercury, Hair

Specimen Type

Hair

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.05 g

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Hair Ambient (preferred)
  Frozen 
  Refrigerated 

Reject Due To

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

Clinical Information

Once absorbed and circulating, mercury becomes bound to numerous proteins, including keratin. The concentration of mercury in hair correlates with the severity of clinical symptoms. If the hair can be segregated by length, such an exercise may be useful in identifying the time of exposure.

Reference Values

0-15 years: not established

≥16 years: <1.0 mcg/g of hair

Interpretation

Normally, hair contains less than 1 mcg/g of mercury; any amount more than this indicates that exposure to more than normal amounts of mercury may have occurred.

Clinical Reference

1. Marques RC, Dorea JG, Bastos WR, Malm O: Changes in children hair-Hg concentrations during the first 5 years: maternal, environmental and iatrogenic modifying factors. Reg Toxicol Pharmacol 2007;49:17-24

2. Canuel R, de Grosbois SB, Atikesse L, et al: New evidence on variations of human body burden of methylmercury from fish consumption. Environ Health Perspect 2006;114:302-306

Method Description

Arsenic, mercury, and lead in hair are analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in kinetic energy discrimination (KED) mode using gallium, iridium, and lutetium as internal standards, and a salt matrix calibration.(Unpublished Mayo method)

Day(s) Performed

Tuesday

Report Available

2 to 8 days

Test Classification

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.

CPT Code Information

83825

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
HGHAR Mercury, Hair 5686-1

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
31900 Mercury, Hair 5686-1
HGHSC Specimen Source 31208-2