Test Code HGCU Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine
Specimen Required
Only orderable as part of profile. For more information see:
-HGUCR / Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine
-HMUCR / Heavy Metal/Creatinine Ratio, with Reflex, Random Urine.
Useful For
Detecting mercury toxicity using random urine specimens
Special Instructions
Method Name
Only orderable as part of profile. For more information see:
-HGUCR / Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine
-HMUCR / Heavy Metal/Creatinine Ratio, with Reflex, Random Urine.
Triple-Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS)
Reporting Name
Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, USpecimen Type
UrineSpecimen Minimum Volume
1.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
Frozen | 7 days |
Reject Due To
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.Clinical Information
The correlation between the levels of mercury (Hg) excretion in the urine and the clinical symptoms is considered poor.
Previous thought indicated urine as a more appropriate marker of inorganic mercury because organic mercury represented only a small fraction of urinary mercury. Based on possible demethylation of methylmercury within the body, urine may represent a mixture of dietary methylmercury and inorganic mercury. Seafood consumption can contribute to urinary mercury levels (up to 30%),(1) which is consistent with the suggestion that due to demethylation processes in the human body, a certain proportion of urinary mercury can originate from dietary consumption of fish/seafood.(2).
For more information see HG / Mercury, Blood.
Reference Values
Only orderable as part of profile. For more information see:
-HGUCR / Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Random, Urine
-HMUCR / Heavy Metal/Creatinine Ratio, with Reflex, Random Urine.
0-17 years: Not established
≥18 years: <2 mcg/g creatinine
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in RochesterTest Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Report Available
2 to 4 daysCPT Code Information
83825