Cobalt, Blood

Cobalt, Whole Blood

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232103, Beaker: Cobalt, Quest: 35417

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Patient should refrain from taking mineral supplements, vitamin B₁₂ or vitamin B complex 3 days prior to specimen collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Royal Blue-top EDTA tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Do not centrifuge. Maintain whole blood in original tube, refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 4.0 mL whole blood, at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Do not centrifuge. Maintain whole blood, refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Transport: 4.0 mL whole blood, at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 48 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 5 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Tuesday – Saturday.
Results available within 3-5 days.

Reference Range

≤1.8 mcg/L

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS)

CPT Codes

83018
LOINC:  5627-5, 5625-9

Contacts

Last Updated

12/17/2025